- Nora Kernan: Jessie looks wonderful tonight.
- Brandon Bourne: She has you to thank for her looks, darling.
- Nora Kernan: And you! When a woman gets more beautiful after she's married, it means her man is either making her very happy or very unhappy.
- Brandon Bourne: Oscar Wilde?
- Nora Kernan: No, Belasco.
- Rosa Senta: You're not worried about what Mrs. Bourne will say?
- Brandon Bourne: Mrs. Bourne will be very understanding.
- Rosa Senta: Of course. The items you pick out to tell her will be very easy to understand.
- Brandon Bourne: Thank you, Rosa, for me and my wife. Thank you.
- Rosa Senta: If I were your wife, I'd cut your heart out!
- Brandon Bourne: [Desparately] Jess, can't you understand what this is for me. I'm like a drunk who knows liquor will wreck him. He hates it. He hides from it. He... he tries!
- Jessie Bourne: What are you asking for? Permission?
- Isabel Lorrison: [Entering her apartment] I'll get you a drink.
- Brandon Bourne: I can say what I have to without one.
- Isabel Lorrison: But I'm not sure I can listen without one.
- Mark Dwyer: Don't worry Jess. I'm not nineteen. I've heard a rumor that people don't always get what they want, and that happiness isn't the natural state of man.
- Brandon Bourne: I've always loved my wife. That shouldn't be news to you.
- Isabel Lorrison: Of course, you met me after you were married. But, then maybe that wasn't love?
- Brandon Bourne: Whatever it was, it's over!
- [He walks away and she follows]
- Isabel Lorrison: Maybe it wasn't love. Maybe it was only chemistry. Or, the right combination. Or a miracle! But, most people drag though their whole lives without finding it. We both know that, don't we, Brand.
- [first lines]
- Jessie Bourne: Yes, this is my town. It's not new to you. You're read books about it. You've seen it in movies. People are always talking about New York. It's the most exciting city in the world, they say. The most glamorous, the most frightening and, above all, the fastest. You hear a great deal about the tempo of this city, it's speed, it's pace, it's driving heartbeat. Perhaps, it's true - for visitors. But, I was born here. I live here. And the only pace I know is the pace of my own life. The only beat I hear is the beat of my own heart. For me and for millions of others, New York is home. The days follow each other quietly, as they do in most places.
- Jessie Bourne: Horace, you're looking very handsome tonight.
- Horace Elcott Howland: And so are you. My, that's a beautiful gown.
- Jessie Bourne: Brandon chose it.
- Nora Kernan: You're always much gayer when Brandon chooses your dresses.
- Brandon Bourne: Nora Kernan, Horace and I don't come here every Thursday night to talk women talk.
- Brandon Bourne: Are you a model?
- Rosa Senta: Yes. Is this a new kind of approach?
- Brandon Bourne: Only in a matter of speaking.
- Rosa Senta: Good, then I won't worry.
- Brandon Bourne: Why don't you dance with me?
- Rosa Senta: Any reason why I should?
- Brandon Bourne: Any reason why you shouldn't?
- Brandon Bourne: What's your name?
- Rosa Senta: Rosa Senta.
- Brandon Bourne: Italian?
- Rosa Senta: Yes. And you're bred and born aren't you? Seventh? Or, Ninth? Or, something?
- Brandon Bourne: Only the Third. How do you know?
- Rosa Senta: You're wife comes into the store quite often. Everyone likes her.
- Brandon Bourne: I like her too. Since you know I'm married, I suppose you wouldn't consider sitting down with me with your ginger ale?
- Rosa Senta: Sure. I'm curious about guys like you.
- Brandon Bourne: What are you curious about with guys like me?
- Rosa Senta: Well, doesn't your wife dance?
- Brandon Bourne: Brilliantly.
- Rosa Senta: Yeah. She's prettier than I am, she dresses better, and she' probably a lot smarter. Everything I can do, chances are, she can do better. So, what do you want to be sitting here with me for? What is it with guys like you? What goes on in your fuzzy little heads?
- Brandon Bourne: What do you want, my philosophy of marriage? Well, I'm a reformed character, you see. Yes, really. But, before I reformed, I suppose my thinking went something like this: Just because a man has one perfect rose in his garden at home, it doesn't mean that he can't appreciate the flowers of the field. Does that make sense?
- Rosa Senta: Oh sure, but, while you were out sniffing around these other little wildflowers, didn't the rose kind of fade?
- Brandon Bourne: Practically out of the picture. That's why I reformed.
- Rosa Senta: I think I better be getting back to my friends.
- Isabel Lorrison: Yes, why don't you.
- Brandon Bourne: Isabel.
- Isabel Lorrison: And thank you for keeping Mr. Bourne amused.
- Rosa Senta: You're good for a few laughs yourself.
- Brandon Bourne: A year of travel hasn't improved your manners, Isabel.
- Isabel Lorrison: Was it my manners that interested you?
- Brandon Bourne: What interests me now is what you want?
- Isabel Lorrison: Nothing - that should frighten you.
- Brandon Bourne: If you have something to say, say it at once, I haven't much time.
- Isabel Lorrison: Oh, not here.
- Brandon Bourne: Why not? Is your Mr. Dawning jealous?
- Isabel Lorrison: Well, naturally. I may be a year older, Brand; but, I haven't lost my touch. Let's go for a little walk. For old times sake? Or, even just to prove that you're not afraid of the dark.
- Isabel Lorrison: I never get used to New York.
- Brandon Bourne: I don't know why not? It got used to you.
- Isabel Lorrison: He wants to marry me. It would even things up, wouldn't it? We'd both be married. It would make things so much fairer - from now on.
- Brandon Bourne: From now on?
- Brandon Bourne: When we run into each other.
- Brandon Bourne: Rosa's a model at "Mary Ann's". She's seen you there. Admired you. She didn't want me to get into a mess that might upset you. Incidentally, she was very disapproving of me for being out alone. She said she'd cut my heart out if she were you.
- Jessie Bourne: You wouldn't be any good to me without a heart. You wouldn't be able to love me.
- Helen Lee: All right, Jess. Would you like me to go now? Or, shall I say and make what's known as girl talk: clothes, gossip, the high price of this-and-that?
- Jessie Bourne: Helen, you're angry.
- Helen Lee: Yes, about the lies that are told about women! That they aren't capable of affection for one another and honest friendship. Because the terrible part is that women believe these lies. I'm concerned about and I'm afraid to ask. I'm afraid you'll think I'm prying. And, yet, if I don't ask - what kind of a friend am I?
- Helen Lee: You've never talked about it, Jess, and...
- Jessie Bourne: There's a kind of trouble you hate to think anyone knows about it. It's like knowing a safety pin's holding up your petticoat. You're ashamed, but - oh well, the petticoat is mended now.
- Helen Lee: Is it?
- Jessie Bourne: I think I want this dress.
- Saleswoman: Well, certainly Mrs. Bourne. Sit down Rosa and show Mrs. Bourne how nicely it relaxes.
- Rosa Senta: Then after the night classes at NYU, I decided I'd improved my mind enough and it was time to start on the body.
- Mark Dwyer: All changed and all exactly the same. Just like you, Rosie. All grown up and beautiful and still that same dirty-faced kid.
- Rosa Senta: Oh, Mark!
- Mark Dwyer: [to Jessie Bourne] This one, she had the dirtiest face on the whole block!
- Mark Dwyer: It's been a long time since I've seen a woman's hand that wasn't blistered and rough. Your's is nice. It's - soft.
- Rosa Senta: Who were those men at the airport?
- Mark Dwyer: Oh, I'm being made love to by various magazines and newspapers.
- Jessie Bourne: Because of your book, "The Syndicate Man"?
- Mark Dwyer: Yeah.
- Jessie Bourne: One of my best friends is among those making love to you. Owen Lee.
- Jessie Bourne: You ask a great many questions!
- Mark Dwyer: Why, don't get mad. There's a great many things I don't know.
- Brandon Bourne: There's a certain note of richness I don't quite remember.
- Isabel Lorrison: My standard of living has risen.
- Brandon Bourne: Let us praise Alec Dawning, from whom all blessings flow.
- Brandon Bourne: Aren't you getting a little obvious, darling?
- Isabel Lorrison: I always was. That's what you like.
- Brandon Bourne: You're spoiling what was a beautiful memory, Isabel. I don't remember you as being this cheap.
- Isabel Lorrison: I always was. That's what you like. That's why you're still here. After everything that's been said, that's why you haven't left.
- Isabel Lorrison: It's all right Brand. What difference does it make? Today or another day? There's no hurry. You'll be back.
- [Brand turns around and slaps Isabel. Isabel smiles]
- Isabel Lorrison: That's better, isn't it Brand! That's what you don't get at home. That's what you've missed isn't it! It's so tiresome being restrained and soft-spoken and gentlemanly. What you really want is to be a little rotten, like me!
- Rosa Senta: How do you like Mark?
- Jessie Bourne: Oh, tremendously!
- Rosa Senta: He thinks you're terrific. He said, "What a dame!"
- Mark Dwyer: Do you always look this good?
- Jessie Bourne: No, I tried especially hard tonight.
- Mark Dwyer: For me, I suppose?
- Jessie Bourne: Well, of course!
- Mark Dwyer: Please, don't tell me that we're strangers. Not again. Because, you know that isn't true.
- Jessie Bourne: No, it isn't true. I'm - comfortable with you.
- Mark Dwyer: Yeah, well, it happens that way.
- Brandon Bourne: I knew it was a trick, but, she made me take her home.
- Jessie Bourne: What did she do? Drug you?
- Brandon Bourne: Jessie, listen to me.
- Jessie Bourne: Why? Will it be fun to tell me all the details?
- Brandon Bourne: You're going to listen...
- Jessie Bourne: To what? To some dirty little story?
- Brandon Bourne: I'll clear things up at the office, get our tickets, pick you up here about 6:30 and we'll be dining on the train at eight. You love eating on trains, Jess.
- Jessie Bourne: You know I do!
- Rosa Senta: Are you all mine, till dinner, thorough dinner, and after dinner?
- Mark Dwyer: Ah, just a drink.
- Rosa Senta: You'd be surprised how long I can nurse one drink, mister.
- Rosa Senta: Tell me something, when I guy ditches a girl, why is he always the one with the long, suffering face?
- Rosa Senta: I don't know much, but, I do know one thing: you can't make anyone feel what they don't feel. Oh, I could get smarter, prettier, learn to play a bugle standing on my head and it wouldn't help. If you don't love me, you don't. That's all there is to it.