A Walk in the Spring Rain (1970)

Katherine Crawford: Ellen

Photos 

Quotes 

• Ellen Meredith : Why is it that if a woman wants to accomplish something, even her own parents consider her aggressive, unhappy or neurotic?

  Roger Meredith : Because it's usually true.

• Libby Meredith : I wonder if you have ever thought of me, if I may borrow a word that has been taken over by very young, as "a person"?

  Ellen Meredith : You're my mother!

  Libby Meredith : What a catchall that is.

• Libby Meredith : Only the young are free to choose? To be taken by surprise and find - joy?

  Ellen Meredith : Unfortunately, yes. Older people have made their commitments, they've accepted their responsibilities, they have other compensations.

  Libby Meredith : Such as?

  Ellen Meredith : Peace of mind.

• Ellen Meredith : I know that father can be pretty trying. He's selfish; but, what man isn't?

• Roger Meredith : Why couldn't Mark make it or last night?

  Ellen Meredith : You can't sell insurance in the daytime, father. Not when you're third from the bottom. It's all after seven.

• Ellen Meredith : I've been accepted at Harvard - the law school!

  [turns around, walks into the kitchen] 

  Ellen Meredith : Didn't you hear me? Mother? I thought that you'd be thrilled. I thought that father was going to be my only problem. I mean, you know how he feels about careers for women.

  Libby Meredith : And Mark? How does he feel?

  Ellen Meredith : Once he got over all that foolishness, thinking that I was emasculating him, then he got excited about the prospect. I mean, marriage should be a partnership. Why shouldn't the woman contribute?

  Libby Meredith : But, she does Ell! As a mother and as a wife! Do you know what that means?

  Ellen Meredith : It doesn't mean slavery.

• Ellen Meredith : It isn't everyday that Harvard accepts a female law student!

  Libby Meredith : [mockingly]  My daughter - the attorney.

• Libby Meredith : Cookies?

  Ellen Meredith : Calories.

  [Libby takes them away] 

• Ellen Meredith : I must say I'm rather knocked out by your attitude!

• Ellen Meredith : Mother, it hurts me to hear you say that I don't know you. You're a beautiful person. I've always admired you and respected you and I've loved you and I've tried to copy you.