Since You Went Away (1944)

Claudette Colbert: Anne Hilton

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Quotes 

• Anne Hilton : Jane, dear, come into the living room. I'd like to talk to you.

  Jane Hilton : What's the matter, Mom?

  Anne Hilton : Well, mayn't I talk to you if I want to?

  Jane Hilton : Of course, but you sound so strange.

  Anne Hilton : Do I? I'm sorry, I don't mean to.

  Jane Hilton : What is it? Why couldn't Brig hear? Is that why you sent her - ? Not about... Pop.

  Anne Hilton : No. Sit down, darling. Jane, dear, I'm terribly proud of the way you've grown up. I'm sorry Pop missed it.

  Jane Hilton : Oh, is that all? That's sweet of you, Mother.

  Anne Hilton : No, dear, it isn't...

  Jane Hilton : It's so wonderful being at the hospital. I wish you could come and visit.

  Anne Hilton : I will.

  Jane Hilton : But some of it's so sad. If you could see those boys. And they're so cheerful, most of them.

  Anne Hilton : I know. They have such courage. I like to think that you have that kind of courage, too, darling.

  Jane Hilton : What are you trying to tell me?

  Anne Hilton : That when a man goes off to war, we have to be...

  Jane Hilton : Bill!

  Anne Hilton : The telegram came just a few minutes ago. It was addressed to you, but I opened it.

  Jane Hilton : Did it say he was missing, or what? I don't care if he's wounded, I don't care what's happened to him, if only...

  Anne Hilton : No, dear, it said he... it said he died in action at Salerno.

  Jane Hilton : Oh, it couldn't be! It couldn't be! It could be a mistake, couldn't it, Mother? I've heard that sometimes - sometimes they get the names mixed up.

  Anne Hilton : Oh, no, honey, you mustn't fool yourself! That would be the worst thing of all. You've got to face it, as hard and cruel as it is.

  Jane Hilton : Yes, I know. I've known it all along. Oh, Mother!

  Anne Hilton : Cry, darling. Cry your heart out. I won't try to tell you that you'll get over it soon, because it will take time - maybe a long time.

• Jane Hilton : Mother?

  Anne Hilton : Yes, Jane?

  Jane Hilton : Mother, do you think I have a nice figure?

  Anne Hilton : Yes, darling. You have a beautiful figure.

  Jane Hilton : Do you think Tony might paint me someday?

  Anne Hilton : Over my dead body.

• Colonel William G. Smollett : Good morning. Mrs. Hilton, I presume?

  Anne Hilton : Yes.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : May I be permitted to observe that this is the first house I've found in this godforsaken community that doesn't smell of cabbage.

  Anne Hilton : Well, it does sometimes.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : I was given to understand at the office of the Purchasing Division, to which I have the misfortune to be attached, that you had a room for rent.

  Anne Hilton : Yes, but I specified an officer. You see, my husband...

  Colonel William G. Smollett : My name is Smollett, William G., Colonel, United States Army, retired. Retired, I might add, by virtue of certain fatuous opinions held in the War Department which judge a man's usefulness neither by his experience nor his ability, but by the number of years since he was weaned.

  Brig Hilton : [dog growls and barks]  Soda. Soda!

  Colonel William G. Smollett : There was nothing in the information I was furnished, madam, which indicated that you had children and domestic pets.

  Anne Hilton : Well, I'm sorry, but they go with the house.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : We won't discuss it. With your permission, madam, may we dispense with further conversation? I should like to inspect the room.

  Anne Hilton : Certainly. Just follow me. I do hope you'll forgive me if I've been long-winded.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Not at all, madam. Through a full, and somewhat protracted existence, I have learned to accept the natural tendency of all women to be garrulous.

  Anne Hilton : You're very tolerant, Colonel.

• Anne Hilton : [on the phone]  How much will that be for three days? What? Brig, turn that thing off, I can't hear. I'm awfully sorry. Yes. Will this get into the early edition? Yes. Fireplace and bay window. Oh, all right, put in "homey atmosphere."

  Brig Hilton : Mother! Mother! Wait, please!

  Anne Hilton : Keep quiet, Brig. Would you send the bill to this address, please? Thank you.

  Brig Hilton : Mother, you don't mean you're going to rent *your* room?

  Anne Hilton : Of course I am, that's the room that will bring the most money. I'll take your room, and you can double up with Jane.

  Brig Hilton : But Mother, you're not going to put somebody in Pop's room? Oh, I didn't mean that.

  Anne Hilton : Now, you wouldn't want those characters in that other city to put Pop in anything but their best room, would you?

  Brig Hilton : But that's different. He's Pop.

• Anne Hilton : [journal entry to Tim voice over]  I hope you'll think I was right, too, Tim, and that someday you'll be interested in reading this diary. And I hope you won't be too shocked when you hear that I'm actually training for work in a shipyard, of all places. Yes, tremendous changes have taken place in the pampered woman who was your wife. It's hard even for me to realize that I'm studying to be a lady welder. And doing very nicely, so it seems. Oh, Tim, I love it so, and I have such admiration for all these people. There's one woman I can't wait for you to meet. Her name is nothing like anything we ever heard at the country club. It's Zophia Koslowska, and she likes me because she thinks I helped her through a most awful and tragic loneliness.

  Zofia Koslowska : I wish my little boy had lived, so he could have seen America. I used to read to him about it every night when the shades were drawn and the sound of heavy boots marching down the street made my poor little Janka shake until I thought his bones would crack. And then we'd pray together that God would let us go to the fairyland across the sea. If only he could have been with me the day I went, all by myself, to the Statue of Liberty and read what it says there for the whole world to see. Do you know it? Anne Hilton, did you ever read it?

  Anne Hilton : No. I'm sorry to say, I don't know it.

  Zofia Koslowska : Oh, I'll never forget it. I know it so well here

  [points at her head] 

  Zofia Koslowska : because I feel it so much here

  [points at her chest] 

  Zofia Koslowska : . It says, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." You've helped light that lamp for me, Anne Hilton.

  Anne Hilton : [journal voice over]  And then, Tim, she said the most thrilling thing that has ever been said to me. She said...

  Zofia Koslowska : You are what I thought America was - what I meant when I prayed with little Janka.

  Anne Hilton : [journal voice over]  And, as in my own small way I help here in the shipyards, I hope I may be worthy of her words, just as each night I pray that always I may be worthy of those other thrilling words... the first time and every time since that you've said, "I love you."

• Anne Hilton : By the way, how did you leave Jane?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : With the mumps, and with tears, I'm afraid. I haven't much tact, I guess. I didn't know what to say.

  Anne Hilton : I know. Poor dear. Then you are very attractive, Tony.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : A bone from Mrs. Hilton?

  Anne Hilton : No, I mean it. It won't be too easy for Jane, getting over it.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Nonsense. Older men. Every girl goes through it. Didn't you?

  Anne Hilton : Still going through it.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Yeah. Older men named Hilton. Don't you ever worry about Jane.

  Anne Hilton : I won't. As long as the older men are like you.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : You know something, Anne? I'm chump enough to go on living on your compliments for the next six months. Like a camel and water, you know? How long can they go?

  Anne Hilton : I can't tell you. I never knew one.

• Brig Hilton : You say it's animal?

  Anne Hilton : That's right.

  Jane Hilton : And its home is in the Middle West.

  Anne Hilton : Umm-hmm.

  Brig Hilton : And it makes a noise like a lion, but it puffs like a locomotive.

  Anne Hilton : Umm-hmm. Better give up. You agreed if you hadn't guessed it by the time we got home.

  Jane Hilton : Oh, I know. It's Soda.

  Anne Hilton : Oh, no. Brig guessed that long ago.

  Brig Hilton : All right. I give up.

  Anne Hilton : It's Colonel Smollett, silly.

• Anne Hilton : [Brig is sleeping on the elderly woman on train]  I'm afraid she's awfully heavy for you.

  Elderly Woman on Train : Oh, no. She's so like my granddaughter. I love holding her.

  Anne Hilton : Is she about the same age?

  Elderly Woman on Train : No. Mary is almost 30 now. She's a nurse. Here, let me show you her picture.

  [opens a locket around her neck] 

  Anne Hilton : Oh, she's pretty! Where is she now?

  Elderly Woman on Train : I really don't know. You see, she was at Corregidor.

  Anne Hilton : Oh, I'm so sorry.

  Jane Hilton : Mother, won't you let me do something now? Can't I...

  Anne Hilton : Oh, Jane, please, darling, not again. I'm so hot and so tired.

  Jane Hilton : But just for the summer, Mother. I could be a nurse's aide, maybe.

  Anne Hilton : All right, Jane.

  Jane Hilton : Oh, gee, Mother, that's swell!

  Anne Hilton : But remember now, just for the summer.

• Emily Hawkins : Hello, Jane. What's this I hear about you working at the hospital?

  Jane Hilton : I'm a nurse's aide.

  Emily Hawkins : A nurse's aide? Oh! What a revolting idea for an unmarried girl of your age. Well, our whole code of living seems to be completely ignored these days, and possibly it's none of my business...

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : You're quite right, Mrs. Hawkins. It is none of your business.

  Emily Hawkins : I must say, Lieutenant, or Commander, or whatever you are, the Navy hasn't improved your manners any.

  Anne Hilton : Please, Tony. Please, Emily. It's the Colonel's birthday, and we're trying to have a party.

  Emily Hawkins : I'm sorry. I meant no offense to you, Jane. I simply feel that well-brought up young girls shouldn't be permitted to have such intimate contact with all sorts of...

  Jane Hilton : All sorts of boys who've lost their arms and legs? They're young too, lots of them. But they weren't too young for that, Mrs. Hawkins, and I don't think breeding entered into it either.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Bravo, Jane.

  Emily Hawkins : I don't care to debate it with you, Jane. But surely there are women more suited to such...

  Jane Hilton : That's just it. There aren't women more suited. And women who might help, like you, Mrs. Hawkins, think you're doing your part if you attend a canteen dance for your own pleasure.

  Anne Hilton : You're tired, honey. Why don't you go upstairs?

  Jane Hilton : Yes, Mother. But there are just one or two more things I want to say.

  Brig Hilton : Come on, darling. She's not worth it.

  Jane Hilton : We're not V-girls! We're simply helping with the wreckage.

  [laughs sarcastically] 

  Jane Hilton : All right, Brig, let's go play with our dolls! Don't worry, Mrs. Hawkins. Please don't worry if our precious well-bred hands come in contact with those mangled bodies. We'll survive! Even if they dont!

  [runs upstairs with Brig] 

  Emily Hawkins : Anne Hilton! What on earth has happened that you would permit a child of yours to talk that way without so much as...

  Anne Hilton : Without so much as what? Thank heaven my child has the courage to say to you what should have been said long ago. And let me add that I'm ashamed. Ashamed that I've put up with you, that I've even known you.

  Emily Hawkins : Well! From now on, you needn't know me. Don't you think for a minute you have me fooled, Anne Hilton. I've not forgotten how you felt about your husband joining up. And may I ask just what other noble sacrifices you've made to give you the privilege of being so self-righteous?

  Anne Hilton : I'm afraid that's just it, Emily. I haven't really made any sacrifices. Oh, I haven't hoarded and cheated and done all the other selfish, unpatriotic things that you've done. But as far as making sacrifices, I'm afraid we're two of a kind. And the realization of it doesn't make me very proud or happy.

• Lieutenant Tony Willett : How's Jane?

  Anne Hilton : She's fine. Her thinking is as clear as a bell. How am I, why don't you ask?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Trying to figure out what sacrifices you can make, is that it?

  Anne Hilton : Don't Tony.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : I'm sorry. But after all you're been through, to have to listen to you berate yourself. You wouldn't sit down like a good girl and let me talk for a minute, would you?

  Anne Hilton : All right. But I won't promise to listen.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Look, Anne. What's your guess as to why I joined the Navy?

  Anne Hilton : Cause you want to do your part, just the way Tim did.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Don't kid yourself. I'm no Tim. I joined up because Top Hat suddenly seemed a little silly and I wanted to have some fun and excitement. I laughed up my sleeve at all the fellows who were giving out with noble motives, the Four Freedoms, and all the rest of it, but I found out that it all added up to a simple, corny phrase that I couldn't laugh off. Home sweet home.

  Anne Hilton : I know.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : You do know? Listen, Anne, you're doing a swell job here at home holding things together. Those daughters of yours, they're pretty wonderful. I know Tim's going to be mighty pleased with them. Though I imagine he'll be a bit surprised at how Jane grew up without so much as a by-your-leave.

  Anne Hilton : Yes, she grew up while Mother knitted. Or worse still, while Mother didn't even knit. That's the point, Tony. Can't you see it?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Boy, I see what you mean now about not listening. I guess I was pretty dull at that.

  Anne Hilton : All right, laugh at me. But it's settled in my mind once and for all. I have a husband who went off to fight for this home and for me - that's what you said, didn't you? And I have children. Children who had courage and intelligence while their mother lived in a dream world. Well believe me, I've come out of it. I buy your "home sweet home" idea, Tony, but I want to do something about it. Well, say something. Oh, don't tell me that the glib Tony Willett's at a loss for words all of a sudden.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Well, Annie, me girl. I'm afraid you're right.

• Anne Hilton : [Fidelia places presents under the tree]  What are those, Fidelia?

  Fidelia : Mr. Hilton done sent these to me a long time ago and told me to put them under the Christmas tree just like we've always done.

  [gets choked up] 

  Anne Hilton : Now, now, now, no tears, Fidelia. There's nothing to cry about.

  Fidelia : I can't help it. He sent me something, too. Mr. Hilton never forgot me, even when he was fighting them devils.

  Anne Hilton : He'll be so happy to hear that you're back on the old job again.

  Fidelia : Yes, ma'am. Miz Hilton, can I confide you something?

  Anne Hilton : Yes, Fidelia.

  Fidelia : Brig sent her daddy his gift just like nothing had happened.

  Anne Hilton : Of course she did. So did Jane. So did I.

  Fidelia : You all did that? Miz Hilton, I guess I just ain't on the right side of the Lord. I just ain't had the right kind of faith. But I will have. From now on, I'll be a true believer.

• Brig Hilton : I know! Why don't we take somebody into the house? You know, a roomer!

  Anne Hilton : Oh, well, if you're going to throw away aces, Jane, that's fine with me.

  Brig Hilton : But Mother, listen to me, why shouldn't we rent a room? There's such a terrible shortage.

  Jane Hilton : Go away. Down with five.

  Anne Hilton : It's perfectly ridiculous, Brig. A stranger in our home. Where you get your ideas is beyond me.

  Jane Hilton : Certainly it's ridiculous. It's communism, that's what it is!

  Brig Hilton : Oh, pooh! We could get an officer maybe. And it might be sort of like having Pop back.

  Jane Hilton : An officer? You know, Mother, I think maybe she's right. I understand there's not a room to be had in town. It might be very patriotic of us to take an officer into our house.

  Brig Hilton : Patriotism hasn't anything to do with it. You're just crazy about uniforms, that's all. Ha! Patriotic!

  Jane Hilton : I think we should do everything we can for our soldiers. That's being patriotic, I...

  Anne Hilton : Brig, Jane, now that's enough. Do you want to finish this game, or don't you?

  Jane Hilton : 102. It's a blitz.

  Anne Hilton : Turn out the dining room lights, Brig.

  Brig Hilton : Suppose Pop were looking for a room in some crowded city like this.

  Anne Hilton : Hurry up, Jane, it can't be that hard to figure out.

  Brig Hilton : And suppose there were a nice family like ours that had three bedrooms for three people. Don't you think it would be just malicious of them not to want to rent a room to Pop?

  Anne Hilton : Well, Jane?

  Jane Hilton : I won almost $6,000. 592 points at $10 a point.

  Anne Hilton : All right, deduct it from what you owe me.

  Brig Hilton : And poor Pop, sleeping in the park!

  Anne Hilton : All right, all right. Pop is sleeping in the park, and the people are all malicious, and we decide to rent him a room. Now you satisfied?

  Jane Hilton : You will, Mother? You'll do it?

  Anne Hilton : I didn't say I'd do it. I'll think about it.

  Brig Hilton : I just knew you couldn't be mean like those characters in that other city. I wonder how much we can get for Jane's room.

  Jane Hilton : My room?

• Major Sam Atkins : Hello, Tony. I didn't know you were in town.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Hello, Sam. It's quite a dance you fellows are putting on here. What's the matter? You look upset.

  Major Sam Atkins : Just got some bad news. Good evening, Mrs. Hilton.

  Anne Hilton : Good evening, Major.

  Major Sam Atkins : Plane crash. Don't say anything about it now, it might spoil the fun.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : That's too bad. Where'd it happen?

  Major Sam Atkins : Right outside town. Lost one of my best boys.

  Anne Hilton : What was his name?

  Major Sam Atkins : Mahoney. He hit some wires.

  Anne Hilton : Oh, not Johnny!

  Major Sam Atkins : Did you know him? Well, I hope he wasn't, uh...

  Anne Hilton : But it can't be! We were talking to him here just a little while ago.

  Major Sam Atkins : I'm extremely sorry, Mrs. Hilton. I had no idea that you knew him. I shouldn't have said anything.

  Anne Hilton : It was just that I liked Johnny very much. I know his father.

  Major Sam Atkins : A terrible thing.

  Soldier at Dance : Beg pardon, sir. The car's ready for you now, sir.

  Major Sam Atkins : Be right there.

  Soldier at Dance : Yes, sir.

  Major Sam Atkins : I've got to go and examine the wreck. Not a very pleasant job, I can tell you. Good night.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Good night.

  Anne Hilton : Oh Tony, how awful. His poor parents.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Lucky Johnny. Come on, Anne. Let's dance.

  Anne Hilton : Dance?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Look Anne, you'll be hearing plenty of things like this. Might as well get used to them now.

• Lieutenant Tony Willett : [sirens wailing]  Uh-oh. Yep. It's one of them all right.

  Anne Hilton : What have we been doing? You weren't speeding.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Have things changed around here? Do you have to be doing something now before you get a ticket?

  Police Officer : Where do you think you're going?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : I wish I knew. What's your guess? Gibralter? New Guinea? Kiska?

  Police Officer : You stationed around here?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Well, yes and no. Look officer, I don't want to be rude, but we're not in a particularly chatty frame of mind. So, would you mind filling out one of those pretty little slips and getting it over with?

  Police Officer : You weren't doing anything.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : I wasn't?

  Anne Hilton : Well, what's all this about?

  Police Officer : Oh, it's just that it gets so lonely along this road since gas rationing. And say, ain't it a beautiful night?

  Anne Hilton : Well, I hadn't noticed it before, but now that you mention it, officer.

  Police Officer : Well, guess I'd better be checking in. Nice to met up with you folks.

  Anne Hilton : Good night.

  Police Officer : Get one of them Japs for me!

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : If I lay my hands on one, I'll give him a ticket!

• Brig Hilton : Class president! Class pin-up girl. I heard all about how she got elected.

  Anne Hilton : Oh, that's not fair, Brig. Becky's a very bright girl.

  Emily Hawkins : She most certainly is. I would say that Becky's one of the brightest, and one of the most attractive girls in this town.

  Anne Hilton : Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to say that.

  Fidelia : No, ma'am!

• Colonel William G. Smollett : He struggled so hard to be a soldier, because I insisted on it. I, in my infinite wisdom.

  Anne Hilton : He would have been a soldier anyway, as things turned out.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Yes, but all he learned from me was the glory, the decorations, the parades.

  Anne Hilton : Bill had character and courage. I know you gave him those.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : I hope so.

  Anne Hilton : He loved you.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Mrs. Hilton, I'm not a child. He hated me. To whom did that telegram come? Why, he didn't even list me as next of kin.

  Anne Hilton : The telegram came to Jane, because they were to be married.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Oh, I didn't know, of course.

  Anne Hilton : I should have told you before. Colonel, if only you could believe that he loved you. Don't you remember the message he sent you? That he was a Smollett, all right, and before the war was over, you'd be proud of him.

• Colonel William G. Smollett : And I might have had that wonderful child as a granddaughter. Bill was fortunate to have known her.

  Anne Hilton : Bill deserved her. He was such a good boy.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Yes, I dare say. The good die first. And they whose hearts are dry as summer dust burn to the socket.

• Lieutenant Solomon : It's a wonderful party, Mrs. Hilton.

  Anne Hilton : It's Tony. He brings life to any party.

  Lieutenant Solomon : Tony's doomed to go through life as everybody's darling.

  Anne Hilton : Even to his men?

  Lieutenant Solomon : Well, they don't think of him as darling, exactly. Hero worship's more like it. I'll bet he didn't tell you he's been recommended for the Navy Cross.

  Anne Hilton : No, really?

  Lieutenant Solomon : Uh-huh. Oh, he'll make jokes about it, but he's very proud of it.

  Anne Hilton : Well, where did...

  [Tony enters] 

  Anne Hilton : Oh, I want to talk to you, John Paul Jones.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : What have I done now?

  Anne Hilton : The Navy Cross - that's what you've done.

  [Tony glares at Lt. Solomon] 

  Anne Hilton : Yes, he told me. Do they give you a ribbon?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Uh-huh.

  Anne Hilton : Well what does it look like? What are the colors?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : [pointing at a ribbon on Lt. Solomon's chest]  As a matter of fact, it looks just like that.

  Lieutenant Solomon : Aw, stop it, Tony. This is an old one. It's last year's model.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Listen, Anne, he'll joke about it, but he's really very proud of it.

  Anne Hilton : Well, he said the same thing about you.

  Lieutenant Solomon : If you people will excuse me now.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Oh, he did, did he?

• Lieutenant Tony Willett : Now I don't want to shock you, but it's no wonder those Italians can paint. There was a dame standing right in the middle of the street with a big tub of spaghetti, and she had - she had...

  Anne Hilton : Now never mind what she had. I have a little imagination.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : Yeah. Well, even as I looked at her, I thought, "She's good, but what are they all? What are all the women in the world compared with Anne?"

  Anne Hilton : Tony, will you never stop?

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : No, I'll never stop, Anne. As long as I can dream about you.

  Anne Hilton : If you ever thought the dream had a chance of coming true, you'd...

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : I'd what, Anne?

  Anne Hilton : Finish it yourself.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : You make it pretty tough for me. I'd feel I'd been wrong about you all my life. I'd have to go looking for a new ideal. I'm afraid it's a little late for that.

  Anne Hilton : What's more, you'd run for your life. But first you'd wring my neck, as I'd expect you to.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : That's right, and what would be the fun in that? I'd never be able to break my heart over you anymore.

  Anne Hilton : Oh, Tony. Never grow up. Never, never. Or I'd lose something very dear to me. Something very dear to all of us.

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : All right, but I'm going to sound awful silly someday making verbal passes at you when we're both in wheelchairs.

  Anne Hilton : [laughing]  You are looking forward to that.

• Anne Hilton : [as she passes by Colonel Smollett, who is fussing with a bunch of shoes]  Having difficulties, Colonel?

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Oh, hello, Mrs. Hilton. Do you by any chance know where I might get some shoe polish that isn't made of old sausages?

  Anne Hilton : [Chuckles]  I wish I could get some sausage that isn't made of old shoe polish!