The Paradine Case Quotes

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: I know why you wanted to see me - *she* sent you.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: She? Mrs. Paradine doesn't even know that I'm here. She had nothing to do with it.

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: It seems I'm wrong then.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Why would she send me?

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: She might have her reasons.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: I don't know what they might be.

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: But perhaps you don't know her as I do.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Mrs. Paradine is my client. I know her as her lawyer, that's sufficient for me.

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: You may not think it, but you're on the wrong side, sir, and I tell you so.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: What so you mean exactly by that? You'd better make yourself clear.

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: Excuse me, sir. You have only known Mrs. Paradine since she is in prison. Is it not so?

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Yes.

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: Then how can you know her? If you did, I should not need to tell you that only Almighty God or the black Devil himself knows what's going on in that head of hers.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: I won't hear anything more against her.

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: I know what I'm talking about; what I say is true. I know her. And I will tell you one thing more, I will tell you about Mrs. Paradine - she's bad, bad to the bone! If ever there was an evil woman, she is one.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Would you mind getting out of here? I don't want any dirty, lying sneaks in my room. Get out!

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: Very good, sir, as you wish.

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: [leaving] If you would allow me, sir, I'm very sorry for you - and God help you.

Gay Keane: Have you ever realized what a lot you can learn from photographs?

Sir Simon Flaquer: The social footsteps of time.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Does the name of Margaret Wells convey anything to you?

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: [hesitating] Yes, sir.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: What does that name convey to you?

[Latour doesn't respond]

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Well, I must try to help your memory. I put it to you that some years ago you were engaged to Margaret Wells of Three Rivers, Quebec; that on your wedding day she left you at the church door and went off with a saddler named Richard Truton.

Andre Latour, Paradine's Valet: That is finished! That is in the past!

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield: Your question may be relevant, Mr Keane; its relevance escapes me.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: M'lord, I submit that the witness has shown, in his evidence and also in his behavior, an almost pathological bias against, not only my client, but against all women.

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield: I may be stupid, but I fail to understand what this jilting has to do with the case; after seeing the witness and observing his appearance and bearing, I should be inclined to regard the young lady's conduct as pathological, not his.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Is anyone living at the hall now?

Driver: Only the caretaker, Mrs. Clarr - maybe Andre's back from London now. They say he knows more about the poor Colonel's death than he would tell. He's a queer one, all right.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: In what way?

Driver: Oh, I don't know. He keeps himself to himself - perhaps that's because he's foreign. They never do seem quite the same, do they, sir?

Gay Keane: Tony's torn him to pieces - it was horrible.

Judy Flaquer: But darling, you've got to remember, its Tony's job.

[first title card]

Title Card: London ~ The time: the recent past.

[first lines]

Lakin: Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes, mum.

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: Thank you, Lakin.

Judy Flaquer: [about Mrs. Paradine] What's she really like?

Sir Simon Flaquer: Fascinating, fascinating. I'm an old ruin, but she certainly brings my pulse up a beat or two.

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: I must say I'm rather surprised to see you again, Inspector. I can't imagine there can be anything else that you want from me.

Police Inspector Ambrose: I know, Mrs. Paradine. I'm aware of what you've been through; but, I've been sent here to arrest you.

Gay Keane: You have changed, you know, darling. Eleven years ago, you wouldn't have taken on this Paradine case.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Oh, well, nonsense. I never turn down a thumping big fee. Then, anymore than now.

Gay Keane: Oh, you'd have taken it on; but, only after sneering for weeks about the decadence of the rich.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: I hardly recognize my lost ideals.

Gay Keane: I remember the first time you called on me, with two tickets for the first night of that show play. Do you remember? You'd forgotten to dress. The look of horror on mother's face when we left the house, it took you five years to forgive that parting look.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: It took her 50 years to perfect that look.

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield: You look very, very appetizing tonight, madam.

Gay Keane: A charming complement from such a gourmet as yourself, Lord Horfield.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: I was thinking just today, how much fun it would be to go to Italy.

Gay Keane: Italy? I thought we'd planned on going to Switzerland.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: I know. But Italy somehow seemed so much more - colourful. Might go back to Venice. You know, get in a gondola.

Gay Keane: Darling.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: What's the matter? What's so amusing?

Gay Keane: Nothing. I can't imagine anything more wonderful than being in a gondola again with you.

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: When I was still at school in Naples it began. I was 16, or so I said. Actually I was younger.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Tragic.

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: Yes, perhaps. But I didn't think so then. I ran away with a man. Istanbul, Athens, Cairo.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: He was much older, of course? Rich. He took advantage of your youth.

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: He was married, respected. I took advantage of him. Then, as suddenly as it began, it ended. He wearied of me, and I wearied of him. What difference does it make?

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: There were - others?

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: Of course there were others!

Sir Simon Flaquer: Oh, come, come.

Judy Flaquer: Don't come, come me!

Sir Simon Flaquer: Tony is still in love with Gay and you know it. And why shouldn't he be?

Judy Flaquer: If he lets Gay down, after all these years.

Sir Simon Flaquer: Get off my lap!

Judy Flaquer: Oh, I've never seen it to fail. Men who've been good too long, get along into the mud and want to wallow in it.

Sir Simon Flaquer: Where did you read that? Tony's too decent for that sort of thing.

Judy Flaquer: Really? The best men always end up with the worst women.

Judy Flaquer: Men are such horrible beasts. I wish I were married to Anthony Keane for just one hour. I'd make him jump through hoops.

Sir Simon Flaquer: I wish you were married to someone. Perhaps he could put up with your clap-trap better than I can!

Gay Keane: I wouldn't like a woman to be hanged, any woman, just because my husband had a rendezvous with her. In jail.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Oh, Gay.

Gay Keane: Let's go to bed darling.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: You'll come up to Cumberland?

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: I'll be waiting here. Cosy, comfortable and protected.

Innkeeper: Would you like some cold fish and salad before you go to bed?

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: No, thank you. But, any chance of a whiskey and soda?

Innkeeper: Okey-doke.

Innkeeper: Are you going to see the house tomorrow?

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Yes. I think so.

Innkeeper: Well, would you mind going in a pony and trap? Our car's all booked up for tomorrow. It's only about 8 miles.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Fine. Fine. Make it about 10 o'clock.

Innkeeper: Okey-doke.

Gay Keane: Judy, darling, just because a man, a husband, fancies some other woman, you don't treat him as a criminal.

Judy Flaquer: You don't.

Gay Keane: I doubt if you would either. It's very painful, but it's painful for him too. He's very fond of me, and I'd like to keep him so.

Judy Flaquer: Even if it means letting him go?

Gay Keane: No, simply by not making him suffer too much for hurting me. After all, I don't own him. I only love him.

Gay Keane: I won't deny that there've been moments when I've wished the worst for her. It's not easy to face the thought of - losing you. We've been really married. Really truly married. As few people have been. Yes, I've lain awake alone, night after night, and I've been tempted to pray that she - But I've come to a conclusion, Tony. I want her to live. I want very much for her to live. And I hope she gets free, scot free. Free to kill. Or, to take other husbands or do anything that comes into that beautiful head of hers.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: But, I don't understand. You can't really care what happens to her.

Gay Keane: But I do, I care very much. Not for any noble reasons. I do hate her. But because I want this to be over and done with and an end to your being all mixed up, part lawyer, part lover.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: What nonsense! Nonsense.

Gay Keane: All right. Frustrated lover then!

Gay Keane: You're not finished with me. You wouldn't have come back home today if you were. I've seen your torture and I've loved you all the more for letting it torture you. I know the depth of your feelings for me.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Yes, Gay.

Gay Keane: I know it and I'm counting on it. All I ask is that she lives so the fight can be an even one. Because, if she dies you're lost to me forever. I know you'll go on thinking that you love her. You'll go on imagining her as your great lost love. May I tell you something Tony? You don't love her. No, you don't. I may not be the cleverest woman in the world. There are lots of things I don't know. But there's one thing I know better than anyone else. I know you.

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield: Must I listen to more of your silly pity for every scoundrel, man or woman...

Lady Sophie Horfield: I do pity her! Who needs pity more than a woman who's sinned?

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield: You always forget that punishment is part of the scheme! An extremely necessary part of it.

Lady Sophie Horfield: Doesn't life punish us enough, Tommy? Doesn't it? Why should we hurt each other? We've no right to be cruel. If I'm certain of anything, it's of that.

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: I did not like his manner with me.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: And what was there in LaTour's manner that you disliked?

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: I thought it sometimes - too familiar.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Could you please explain exactly what you mean by that?

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: He - he took liberties.

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: Did he - try to make love to you? Please answer that. Did he try to make love to you?

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: Yes.

Sir Joseph, Counsel for the Prosecution: Mrs Paradine, did you think Andre LaTour very handsome?

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: Of course not. He is a servant. How could I consider him in that way?

Sir Joseph, Counsel for the Prosecution: Why did you wait until that night to tell your husband?

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: I was ashamed.

Sir Joseph, Counsel for the Prosecution: Why should you be ashamed? It wasn't your fault.

Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine: Of course not.

Sir Joseph, Counsel for the Prosecution: Then why be ashamed? Was it your modesty that held you back? Remembering your past? Would you say that?

Anthony Keane, Counsel for the Defense: My Lord, I protest against that insinuation. There's been nothing in the evidence that reflects on the witness' past.

Sir Joseph, Counsel for the Prosecution: My lord, there was no insinuation. I merely tried to convey that a lady of her, what, to use her own words, her unattractive past, need hardly have refrained from appealing to her husband on the score of maidenly modesty.

Lady Sophie Horfield: Oh, that poor woman. Couldn't you do something for her?

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield: How dare you speak to one of His Majesty's judges like that, you silly woman?

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield: That's a charming ruby. Tell me, did your husband earn all of that whacking away at jurists?

Gay Keane: Lady Horfield was admiring it too. It pleased me so much, because she has such excellent taste... in most things.

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield: Hey Keane. I'm afraid your wife is wearying of me. Pity. Pity.