The Mad Miss Manton (1938)
Henry Fonda: Peter Ames
Photos
Quotes
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Melsa Manton : [storms into the room and slaps the first man she sees] Are you Peter Ames?
Peter's Secretary : No...
Peter Ames : But I am...
Melsa Manton : [Slaps Peter]
Peter Ames : [Slaps Melsa] To complete the circle.
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[last lines]
Peter Ames : We'll go to South America, for six months - maybe we'll never come back!
Melsa Manton : Can you afford it?
Peter Ames : No, but you can.
Melsa Manton : Isn't there a drop of red blood in your veins? I want to live on *your* income!
Peter Ames : That's foolish, who's going to live on yours?
[they kiss passionately]
Lieutenant Brent : Sullivan, my bicarb tablets.
Sullivan : Will you quit crawling up on me.
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Peter Ames : Listen, before I knew you, I disliked you intensely. When I met you, I disliked you intensely. Even now, I dislike you intensely... that is, the sensible sane portion of me... but there's an insane side of me that gets a little violent every time I think of you.
Melsa Manton : Getting out of a million dollar lawsuit wouldn't have anything to do with your change in affection, would it?
Peter Ames : You're a nasty creature, aren't you, but in time I'll beat it out of you.
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Peter Ames : [to Melsa] You're up to your beautiful hips in murder!
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Melsa Manton : [has just discovered Fonda is faking being near death, to pump her for information] Are you still in pain, sweet?
Peter Ames : [from hospital bed, faintly] Oh its nothing, nothing... only when I move... but its nothing...
Melsa Manton : [hovering over hospital bed] Peter, perhaps I did wrong in not telling Inspector Brent everything.
Peter Ames : You mean you held something back?
Melsa Manton : Yes Peter.
Peter Ames : [this is what he's hoping to hear] Oh sweet, you're so clever.
Melsa Manton : Remember when I went into Ronnie Beldon's apartment?
Peter Ames : Yes dear.
Melsa Manton : When I went into the bathroom, I found something.
Peter Ames : In the bathroom?
Melsa Manton : Yes, floating around in a foot of water in the bathtub.
Peter Ames : Louder, dear, I can hardly hear you.
Melsa Manton : [ominously] I'll come closer.
Peter Ames : Tell me dear, what was it?
Melsa Manton : [yelling] The Normandie, you black-hearted faker, in full sail!
[stabs him in the leg with a fork]
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Peter Ames : All right, Hilda, can you carry a gun?
Hilda : No, suh! I'se a pacifist.
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Edward Norris : Don't speak to anyone. I don't want to kill an innocent bystander.
Peter Ames : Ya know that's what I like about crazy men; that fine sense of distinction.
Edward Norris : You think I'm insane?
Melsa Manton : [Stands in front of Peter, as to protect him] Oh, he's says that to everybody.
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Peter Ames : [Referring to Melsa] Isn't she wonderful? That's the girl I'm going to marry.
Lieutenant Brent : I'll take Snow White!
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Melsa Manton : [to her friends] Get him, girls!
Peter Ames : [Nervously, then desparately as the girls engulf and subdue him] Hey, wait a minute, girls...
[clicks the phone]
Peter Ames : Tahe it easy, girls... look... Hello... Help, I tho... wha... ahh!...
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Melsa Manton : May I have a cigarette?
[He places one in her mouth, lights it]
Melsa Manton : I've had dozens of cigarette lighters but they never worked.
Peter Ames : This just one just takes cheap gasoline.
Melsa Manton : Maybe that's why.
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Peter Ames : [Melsa has been knocked unconscious and Peter is concerned] Get some water... Melsa. Oh, Melsa, darling, please, please don't be dead.
Helen Frayne : Here it is.
[Helen hands Peter a glass of water, Peter throws water in Melsa's face. She awakens, spluttering]
Peter Ames : It's all right. It's distilled water.