The Crash (1932)

Ruth Chatterton: Linda Gault

Photos 

Quotes 

• Linda Gault : I'm not bored with New York. I'm bored with life.

• Geoffrey Gault : Well, what'd you get out of him?

  Linda Gault : Nothing that would interest you.

  Geoffrey Gault : Anything he'd say to you would interest me. Whether its about the market or not.

  Linda Gault : I told you. Nothing.

  Geoffrey Gault : So, your fatal charm is beginning to fail, eh? Well, I'm not surprised. It couldn't last forever.

  Linda Gault : You think that, eh? Alright then, I'll tell you. It was too easy. Like that.

  [Snaps fingers] 

  Linda Gault : The market's perfectly alright. Everything's going up. Everything. This recession doesn't mean a thing. They're, they're simply trying to shake out the little fellows or something like that.

  Geoffrey Gault : That's all I wanted to know. Get yourself something tomorrow. You've earned it.

  Linda Gault : Oh, I've enough jewelry now.

  Geoffrey Gault : What's the matter with us, now, anyway? Seems to me the more money we make the more wretched we are. It wasn't this way when we were poor.

  Linda Gault : I'll tell you what it is. It's this unspoken conspiracy between us. I sinister tips with my charm and you convert them into money. And that's killed everything there ever was between us. Sometimes I'm half sick with shame at the things I do.

  Geoffrey Gault : What do you think I am? Do you suppose I'd touch that money if it wasn't for you? How do you think I could hold you if I didn't make more money, year after year after year?

  Linda Gault : You really care for me a little bit? You'll love me when I'm old and gray?

  Geoffrey Gault : I love you now.

• Ronnie Sanderson : I've seen you before, you know. In Hamilton, before you came here.

  Linda Gault : Where? In the bar? That's right. I was trying to drink myself to death. Oh, but it wasn't my fault, you know. I'm so young and women are so helpless.

  Ronnie Sanderson : Women aren't helpless. They're the most dangerous creatures alive.

  Linda Gault : Splendid! You look like a man who can face danger. Shall we take a walk?

• Linda Gault : Hello?

  Telephone Operator : The party wishes to reverse the charges. It will be 24 dollars and 75 cents for the first 3 minutes and 8 dollars for...

  Linda Gault : Who is it?

  Telephone Operator : Mr. Gault calling. Yes. Alright. Start talking please.

• Linda Gault : I thought everybody was prosperous these days. The market's going higher and higher.

• Linda Gault : How about your day? What happened in the market?

  Geoffrey Gault : Very strange. Four million share day. Heavy selling and most of the stuff pretty well absorbed. Just for no reason. I can't find any explanation for it. Everything looks perfectly serene. Unless some of the big chaps are getting ready to unload.

  Linda Gault : Why don't you stop talking about business and look at me. That's better. Pay some attention to your wife. Other men find me - quite desirable, you know.

• Linda Gault : You English can be rude!

• Linda Gault : Isn't it funny what a turn of the wheel will do. The same market that broke my husband, made yours rich.

• Linda Gault : It makes me want to cry. I didn't know you knew I liked them. I thought you didn't notice. It was lovely, Geoff. Lovely thought.

• Linda Gault : You know, you can't hold a woman with a dressing table and a few chairs.

• Geoffrey Gault : [the Stock Market has crashed]  The bottom has dropped out of the Market. I'm in trouble. You've *got* to get ahold of John Fair.

  Linda Gault : What for? Another tip?

  Geoffrey Gault : Oh, I don't *want* any more tips. You've got to arrange a loan for at least $250,000 right away.

  Linda Gault : Geoff, you're insane! Why don't you go to your bank?

  Geoffrey Gault : The bank's out! They won't lend me money now - I wouldn't even lend it to myself.

  Linda Gault : Well, I won't do it. I refuse to humiliate myself by crawling to that man. It's contemptible of you to even suggest it!

• Geoffrey Gault : Let me tell you something: I'm cracking up. Do you understand? I'll be sold out in an hour. Clean. Do you realize what that means? Now, you're afraid of poverty. Well, listen to this: it's here. Do you understand that? It's here! Now where'll you go?

  Linda Gault : That's a lie. It can't be true! You're just saying it to frighten me, to make me do those things I won't do.

  Geoffrey Gault : It's not a lie! We'll be wiped out tomorrow. Fair can save us, but... but it's up to you.

  Linda Gault : [pauses to consider]  Very well... What security shall I offer on the loan?

  Geoffrey Gault : None. No security. Just... your charm.

  Linda Gault : I see...

  [closes door and leaves] 

• Linda Gault : [after she and her husband have been decimated by the stock market crash]  Would it be too terrible if I hid out somewhere for a while? Couldn't I go someplace?

  Geoffrey Gault : [a bit perplexed]  Go where?

  Linda Gault : Bermuda! Bermuda would do... and when you make some money, I can come back home.

  Geoffrey Gault : [wearily]  Yes... I suppose I can stay here and do the dirty work.

  Linda Gault : If I don't get away I'll have another smash!

  Geoffrey Gault : [wearily]  All right, dear. I'll raise the money somehow.

  Linda Gault : Oh, Geoff, thanks.

• Linda Gault : How did you happen to have a... "station" in Australia?

  Ronnie Sanderson : Nothing to tell, really. I went broke after the War. Most of us did, you know. So I went off to Australia and began raising sheep.

  Linda Gault : Hmm. I'm glad to know what one does when one goes broke. So that's it: you raise sheep.

  Ronnie Sanderson : [dismissively]  Hmph. It's a smelly business.

• Linda Gault : Why don't you ever talk to me?

  Ronnie Sanderson : Why don't you ever stop drinking?

  Linda Gault : I'll stop drinking, if you start talking.

• Ronnie Sanderson : How's it going to end?

  Linda Gault : With me? Oh, I don't know. I thought someday the stock market will go up again, and I'll go back to New York, same ol' rounds... I've tried very hard to be honest with you, Ronnie, because you're honest with me. Australia doesn't tempt me - and you do. But I'm not going to give way to temptation. I'm not a very happy woman, Ronnie. But sometime, I may be able to have again the things that I need: Paris, The Lido, Palm Beach.

• Linda Gault : What do we talk about? Australia?

  Ronnie Sanderson : Why Australia?

  Linda Gault : [sounding a bit too glib]  Oh, I don't know. It fascinates me. Cool winds from the south, and those *miles* of sheep. You know, I think a woman might be very happy there, Ronnie dear.

  Ronnie Sanderson : That isn't true. All you want is money, and safety, and a good time. You can't get those things in Australia without working for them.

• Ronnie Sanderson : You remind me of a Russian woman I once knew - Princess Karaikin.

  Linda Gault : Oh? What did she do?

  Ronnie Sanderson : She got caught in Russia, during the Revolution. She was a good woman, but she didn't want to starve. So she sold her jewelry, and then her fur coat... Last I heard, she was a common sight on the streets of Moscow.

  Linda Gault : Oh, you're disgusting! And it isn't true. Are you in the habit of insulting women like that?

  Ronnie Sanderson : It is true. This morning you heard that your husband had gone broke. Now, you're after me.

• E.F. McSorley - Diamond Broker : You, uh, want to place these pearls with us, lady, for a loan?

  Linda Gault : Yes. What are they worth?

  E.F. McSorley - Diamond Broker : Hmm... you mean, what can you get for them?

  Linda Gault : I mean, what'll you give for 'em?

  E.F. McSorley - Diamond Broker : Ohh... perhaps, maybe 4 thousand?

  Linda Gault : [shocked at the low valuation he's offering]  What!

  E.F. McSorley - Diamond Broker : Well, then, uh, 4,500. But that's the top.

  Linda Gault : But my husband paid $90,000 for them!

  E.F. McSorley - Diamond Broker : Hmm, I've got a safe full of 'em. Sorry. It's the best I can do.

  Linda Gault : [taking her pearls back]  Well, I won't sell 'em at *that* price.

• Linda Gault : [In Bermuda, a bit tipsy, addressing a turtle]  Say, Petey, did you ever tell a lie? A lie that made a lot of trouble for everybody?