The Proud and Profane (1956)

Thelma Ritter: Kate Connors

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Kate Connors : [as they are standing by unconscious and injured Black's bedside]  Why don't you get some rest. You've been on your feet ever since yesterday. He won't come to for five or six hours.

  Lee Ashley : [staring intently at Black]  I can wait. I can wait.

• Kate Connors : You know what that's for? So you boys can have hot showers any time you want. Only showers in Noumea. Of course, if we don't paint it, you're all going to get splinters in your bottoms.

• Kate Connors : [to Lee]  They're just trying to act like big shots. It's the ones that don't whistle at you you got to be careful of.

• Kate Connors : You're going to make the rest of us look like a lot of sharecroppers in those new uniforms.

  Lee Ashley : Well, they're nothing special.

  Kate Connors : Out here, anything that's new and not faded is something special - including what's inside the uniform too.

• Kate Connors : Get your suit. You can go for a swim. Beautiful beach.

  Lee Ashley : All right. Thanks, Kate.

• Kate Connors : I'm Kate Conners, Red Cross Club Director here. Anything special we can do for your boys?

  Lt. Col. Colin Black : Yes. Don't call them boys and leave 'em alone.

• Kate Connors : She should be back by now. You undoubtedly have 20/20 vision. Can you see a girl swimming down there?

  Lt. Col. Colin Black : There's someone in a green bathing suit sunning herself.

  [picks up and looks through his binoculars at Lee] 

  Lt. Col. Colin Black : Hey, she's really something.

  Kate Connors : Any Peeping Toms in your family?

  Lt. Col. Colin Black : She's twinkling and twitching like an electric sign in Times Square. All she lacks down there is a man.

• Lt. Col. Colin Black : Ashley? Ashley?

  Kate Connors : Did you know him?

  Lt. Col. Colin Black : No, I didn't. But, I'd certainly like to know his wife.

• Lt. Col. Colin Black : I'm curious Colonel, were you ever bitten by a Red Cross worker?

  Kate Connors : No. But, I must confess it sounds interesting.

• Lee Ashley : This is animal. It's nothing more. It's just violent and cheap!

  Kate Connors : At least you recognize it for what it is.

  Lee Ashley : Yes and I despise myself for it. But, there's nothing I can do, Kate. I'm rolling down a hill and I can't stop myself.

  Kate Connors : And he's just the kind to be waiting at the bottom.

  Lee Ashley : Oh, he's hard and cruel. There's nothing tender or gentle about him. He never asks me to do anything. He tells me! Why do I stand for it? I've never been treated this way before in my life!

  Kate Connors : That's why it's so fascinating.

  Lee Ashley : Oh, it isn't! It's degrading.

  Kate Connors : That's part of the fascination.

• Kate Connors : If you get married now, I'm going to have to ship you right home.

  Lee Ashley : Yes, I know.

  Kate Connors : You know it's against regulations for husband and wife to be in same theater of war.

  Lee Ashley : I know.

  Kate Connors : If I were you, I'd wait.

  Lee Ashley : No you wouldn't, Kate. We can't wait.