Picnic (1955)

Betty Field: Flo Owens

Photos 

Quotes 

• Flo Owens : If she loses her chance when she's young, she might as well throw all her prettiness away.

  Madge Owens : I'm only 19.

  Flo Owens : And next summer you'll be 20, and then 21, and then 40.

  Madge Owens : You don't have to be morbid.

• Flo Owens : He's no good. He'll never be able to support you. And when he does have a job, he'll spend it all on drink. And after that they'll be other women. I know!

  Madge Owens : Mom, you don't love someone because he's perfect.

• Hal Carter : Now, don't you blow your top, ma'am. I'm leaving town.

  [Turning to Madge] 

  Hal Carter : Aren't you gonna say good bye?

  Madge Owens : bye.

  Hal Carter : Are you mad at me?

  Madge Owens : no

  Hal Carter : I gotta know how you feel. Last night I thought you liked me.

  Madge Owens : I did like you. I liked you from the first time I saw you.

  Flo Owens : Madge, are you out of your senses?

  Hal Carter : Look. I, I've been thinking all night. I've never said this before, because it... It'd make me seem like such a freak, but...

  Madge Owens : What?

  Hal Carter : I love you, Madge. Do you hear?

  Flo Owens : Millie, I want you in the house this minute.

  Hal Carter : Do you love me? Do you?

  Flo Owens : I'm gonna call the police and have you put where you belong.

  Hal Carter : [Train horn sounds]  If you please, ma'am. I'm catching that freight. Meet me baby. We'll get married. They'll give me a room in the hotel. It'll be ok until we find something better.

  Flo Owens : Oh, Madge, don't listen.

  Hal Carter : Look, baby. I got a chance with you. It won't be big time, but that isn't important, is it? :

  [Train horn sounds twice] 

  Hal Carter : Come on.

  Madge Owens : oh, Hal, I can't.

  Hal Carter : Why?

  Madge Owens : Don't you see why? Don't you?

  [Train horn sounds several blasts] 

  Hal Carter : Listen, baby, you're the only real thing I ever wanted, ever. You're mine. I gotta claim what's mine, or I'll be nothing as long as I live. You love me. You know it. You love me.

  [as train passes, Hal runs to jump a freighter, shouting] 

  Hal Carter : You love me.

  [Hal turns as he runs for passing freight train] 

  Hal Carter : You love me.

  Flo Owens : oh, Madge...

  [Madge runs up to her room and Flo walks to Mrs. Potts] 

  Flo Owens : You liked him, didn't you Helen?

  Helen Potts : Yes, I did. I got so used to things as they were: Everything so prim, the geranium in the window, the smell of mama's medicines. And then he walked in, and it was different! He clomped through the place like he was still outdoors. There was a man in the place and it seemed good!

• Flo Owens : Where is everybody?

  Helen Potts : At a picnic everybody disappears. Don't you remember, Flo?

• Madge Owens : Oh, Ma, what good is it just to be pretty?

  Flo Owens : What a question.

  Madge Owens : Maybe I get tired of only being looked at.

• Flo Owens : Madge, does Alan ever make love?

  Madge Owens : Sometimes we park the car by the river.

  Flo Owens : Do - do you let him kiss you? Well, after all, you've been going together all summer.

  Madge Owens : Of course, I let him.

  Flo Owens : Does he ever want to go beyond kissing?

  Madge Owens : Oh, Mom!

  Flo Owens : Well, I'm your mother, for heaven's sake, these things *have* to be talked about.

• Flo Owens : It would be awfully nice to be married to Alan, Madge. Better get busy.

  Madge Owens : Busy?

  Flo Owens : A pretty girl doesn't have long. Just a few years.

• Flo Owens : Mrs. Owens, this is Christine Schoenwalder. She's taking Mabel Freemont's place this year.

  Christine Schoenwalder : In Feminine Hygiene.

• Madge Owens : I'm going to Tulsa, Mom.

  Flo Owens : You don't know what you're doing. You can't.

  Madge Owens : I'm going Mom.