A Little Princess Quotes
A young girl is relegated to servitude at a boarding school when her father goes missing and is presumed dead.
Miss Minchin: [after ordering the girls out and punishing Becky, to Sara] And you will perform all here chores in addition to your own without breakfast, lunch, OR dinner! It's time you learn, Sara Crewe, that real life has nothing to do with your little fantasy games. It's a cruel, nasty world out there and it's our duty to make the best of it - not to indulge in ridiculous dreams, but to be productive and useful! Do you understand what I'm saying?
Sara Crewe: Yes, ma'am.
Miss Minchin: Good!
[she leaves]
Sara Crewe: But I don't believe in it.
[miss Minchin goes awestruck]
Miss Minchin: Don't tell me you still fancy yourself a princess!
[laughs]
Miss Minchin: Good God, child, look around you! Or better yet, look in the mirror!
[after a long pause]
Sara Crewe: [confidentially] I am a princess.
Miss Minchin: [in disbelief] Oh!
Sara Crewe: All girls are! Even if they live in tiny old attics, even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young, they're still princesses - all of us! Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he?
Miss Minchin: [furiously, in tears] If I find you up here with any of the girls again, I WILL THROW YOU OUT INTO THE STREET!
Sara Crewe: Yes, ma'am.
Miss Minchin: Good!
[she leaves]
Sara Crewe: But I don't believe in it.
[miss Minchin goes awestruck]
Miss Minchin: Don't tell me you still fancy yourself a princess!
[laughs]
Miss Minchin: Good God, child, look around you! Or better yet, look in the mirror!
[after a long pause]
Sara Crewe: [confidentially] I am a princess.
Miss Minchin: [in disbelief] Oh!
Sara Crewe: All girls are! Even if they live in tiny old attics, even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young, they're still princesses - all of us! Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he?
Miss Minchin: [furiously, in tears] If I find you up here with any of the girls again, I WILL THROW YOU OUT INTO THE STREET!
[the amnesiac Capt. Crewe comes across Sara crying in a corner of a darkened room in Randolph's house]
Capt. Crewe: What is it? Why are you crying? Please tell me. I won't hurt you. Won't you tell me your name?
Sara Crewe: [sobbing] Sara.
Capt. Crewe: 'Sara'... that's such a pretty name. Sara...
Sara Crewe: [there is a flash of lightening, and the lights suddenly come back on] Papa...
[she rises, and stares at Crewe in shock]
Sara Crewe: Papa...
Capt. Crewe: What did you say?
Sara Crewe: [she runs to him, and he tries to hold her away] Papa...
Capt. Crewe: I'm sorry...
Sara Crewe: Papa, it's me! It's Sara!
Capt. Crewe: Sara, do you know me?
Sara Crewe: Oh, God, papa, don't you remember me?
Miss Minchin: [faintly] She must be in here!
Sara Crewe: Papa, please! You've got to know me! It's Sara, remember? Remember India and Maya? Remember the Ramayana... and Emily? And the locket with Mama's picture in it?
Capt. Crewe: [still struggling to push her away] No...
Sara Crewe: Oh, God, papa, please!
Miss Minchin: [entering the room with the policemen and Randolph] Sara!
Sara Crewe: Papa, please!
Charles Randolph: Do you know this man?
Sara Crewe: Papa, tell them!
Miss Minchin: [recognizes Captain Crewe] This child has no father. Take her away!
Sara Crewe: [a policeman tears Sara away and carries her, kicking and screaming, from the room] No! No! Papa!
Capt. Crewe: I'm so sorry...
Capt. Crewe: What is it? Why are you crying? Please tell me. I won't hurt you. Won't you tell me your name?
Sara Crewe: [sobbing] Sara.
Capt. Crewe: 'Sara'... that's such a pretty name. Sara...
Sara Crewe: [there is a flash of lightening, and the lights suddenly come back on] Papa...
[she rises, and stares at Crewe in shock]
Sara Crewe: Papa...
Capt. Crewe: What did you say?
Sara Crewe: [she runs to him, and he tries to hold her away] Papa...
Capt. Crewe: I'm sorry...
Sara Crewe: Papa, it's me! It's Sara!
Capt. Crewe: Sara, do you know me?
Sara Crewe: Oh, God, papa, don't you remember me?
Miss Minchin: [faintly] She must be in here!
Sara Crewe: Papa, please! You've got to know me! It's Sara, remember? Remember India and Maya? Remember the Ramayana... and Emily? And the locket with Mama's picture in it?
Capt. Crewe: [still struggling to push her away] No...
Sara Crewe: Oh, God, papa, please!
Miss Minchin: [entering the room with the policemen and Randolph] Sara!
Sara Crewe: Papa, please!
Charles Randolph: Do you know this man?
Sara Crewe: Papa, tell them!
Miss Minchin: [recognizes Captain Crewe] This child has no father. Take her away!
Sara Crewe: [a policeman tears Sara away and carries her, kicking and screaming, from the room] No! No! Papa!
Capt. Crewe: I'm so sorry...
Sara Crewe: Papa? Maya told me that all girls are princesses.
Capt. Crewe: Maya... is a very wise woman.
Sara Crewe: Then it's true?
Capt. Crewe: You can be anything you want to be, my love, as long as you believe.
Sara Crewe: What do you believe?
Capt. Crewe: I believe that you are... and always will be... my little princess.
Capt. Crewe: Maya... is a very wise woman.
Sara Crewe: Then it's true?
Capt. Crewe: You can be anything you want to be, my love, as long as you believe.
Sara Crewe: What do you believe?
Capt. Crewe: I believe that you are... and always will be... my little princess.
[Sara just met her new doll, Emily]
Capt. Crewe: You know, dolls make the very best friends. Just because they can't speak doesn't mean they don't listen. And did you know that when we leave them alone in our room, they come to life?
Sara Crewe: They do?
Capt. Crewe: Yes! But before we walk in and catch them, they return to their place as quick as lightning!
Sara Crewe: Why don't they come to life in front of us so we can see them?
Capt. Crewe: Because it's magic. Magic has to be believed. It's the only way it's real.
Capt. Crewe: You know, dolls make the very best friends. Just because they can't speak doesn't mean they don't listen. And did you know that when we leave them alone in our room, they come to life?
Sara Crewe: They do?
Capt. Crewe: Yes! But before we walk in and catch them, they return to their place as quick as lightning!
Sara Crewe: Why don't they come to life in front of us so we can see them?
Capt. Crewe: Because it's magic. Magic has to be believed. It's the only way it's real.
[at Sara's birthday party, Sara blows out the candles on her cake]
Lottie: [happily jumping up and down] I want a big piece!
Lavinia: [sarcastically] Oh hush up, Lottie! I'm sure Princess Sara will give everyone a fair share. Right, Princess?
Lottie: [to Sara] I told her that's what you were.
Sara Crewe: Well, not just me, all girls are princesses. Even snotty, two-face bullies like you, Lavinia!
Lottie: [happily jumping up and down] I want a big piece!
Lavinia: [sarcastically] Oh hush up, Lottie! I'm sure Princess Sara will give everyone a fair share. Right, Princess?
Lottie: [to Sara] I told her that's what you were.
Sara Crewe: Well, not just me, all girls are princesses. Even snotty, two-face bullies like you, Lavinia!
Rosemary: That's it! I can't take it anymore! I don't care what you say about Sara's stories. They've got to be more fun than watching your hair being combed!
[Rosemary leaves in anger]
Lavinia: If anyone else feels the same way, I think she should leave, too!
[the other two girls leave as Lavinia goes stunned]
[Rosemary leaves in anger]
Lavinia: If anyone else feels the same way, I think she should leave, too!
[the other two girls leave as Lavinia goes stunned]
Sara Crewe: Don't cry, Becky.
Becky: I'm scared. If Minchin throws me out, I got no place to go.
Sara Crewe: That's not true. I'm here with you. I've always thought of us as sisters.
Becky: You have?
Sara Crewe: Let's make a promise right now: to always look out for each other.
Becky: It's a promise.
[they embrace]
Becky: I'm scared. If Minchin throws me out, I got no place to go.
Sara Crewe: That's not true. I'm here with you. I've always thought of us as sisters.
Becky: You have?
Sara Crewe: Let's make a promise right now: to always look out for each other.
Becky: It's a promise.
[they embrace]
[Captain Crewe has just presented his young daughter with a doll named Emily]
Capt. Crewe: Whenever you're afraid, or miss me terribly... just tell Emily. And she'll get the message to me, wherever I am. And I'll send one back right away... so that when you hug her... you'll really be getting a hug from me.
Sara Crewe: ...It's alright, Papa. I'm going to be fine.
Capt. Crewe: Whenever you're afraid, or miss me terribly... just tell Emily. And she'll get the message to me, wherever I am. And I'll send one back right away... so that when you hug her... you'll really be getting a hug from me.
Sara Crewe: ...It's alright, Papa. I'm going to be fine.
Miss Minchin: [voiceover, as she leads Sara up to the attic] And because of the expenses you've incurred, everything you own now belongs to me: your clothes, your toys, everything, though it will hardly make up for the financial losses I've suffered. From now on, you must earn your room and board here. You will move to the attic with Becky and work as a servant. If you fail to meet the standards of this institution or if you don't do as you're told, you'll be thrown out. And believe me, Sara, the streets of the city are not kind to homeless beggars.
[as they arrive at the attic]
Miss Minchin: You should report to Mabel in the kitchen promptly at 5 a.m.
[sees Sara's locket, then takes it away]
Miss Minchin: I could have you arrested for taking this. You're lucky I let you keep that doll. You may have the book, but another incident like this, and I will call the authorities.
[lighting and thunder]
Miss Minchin: I expect you to remember, Sara Crewe: you're not a princess any longer.
[as they arrive at the attic]
Miss Minchin: You should report to Mabel in the kitchen promptly at 5 a.m.
[sees Sara's locket, then takes it away]
Miss Minchin: I could have you arrested for taking this. You're lucky I let you keep that doll. You may have the book, but another incident like this, and I will call the authorities.
[lighting and thunder]
Miss Minchin: I expect you to remember, Sara Crewe: you're not a princess any longer.
Sara Crewe: What are you doing here?
Ermengarde: We brought you something.
[the five girls stand in line, then curtsy one at a time]
Ermengarde: Princess Sara, we'd like to present you with something we rescued.
Betsy: In a most dangerous adventure.
Gertrude: Our very own crusade.
Rosemary: Risking all our lives.
Lottie: And mine too.
[Lottie hands her the locket Miss Minchin confiscated]
Sara Crewe: I - I don't know what to say. You all are the best friends anyone could ever ask for!
Ermengarde: We brought you something.
[the five girls stand in line, then curtsy one at a time]
Ermengarde: Princess Sara, we'd like to present you with something we rescued.
Betsy: In a most dangerous adventure.
Gertrude: Our very own crusade.
Rosemary: Risking all our lives.
Lottie: And mine too.
[Lottie hands her the locket Miss Minchin confiscated]
Sara Crewe: I - I don't know what to say. You all are the best friends anyone could ever ask for!
[Randolph and his servant are at a military hospital, where Randolph has discovered that the amnesiac soldier there is not his son John]
Charles Randolph: All the hoping... you must think me a fool.
Ram Dass: Is it your wish to be wise, sahib?
Charles Randolph: I don't know. I suppose a wise man wouldn't have come here at all.
Ram Dass: But if he had, he would have looked more closely upon the soldier's face.
Charles Randolph: And what would he have seen?
Ram Dass: Pain, sahib. He needs to be cared for.
Charles Randolph: He's not my responsibility.
Ram Dass: A wise man would remember that this soldier was in John's regiment. If his memory returns... he might tell sahib what happened to his son. Perhaps sahib would learn that John is in British hospital now wishing a kind man would take him home... away from his pain.
Charles Randolph: All the hoping... you must think me a fool.
Ram Dass: Is it your wish to be wise, sahib?
Charles Randolph: I don't know. I suppose a wise man wouldn't have come here at all.
Ram Dass: But if he had, he would have looked more closely upon the soldier's face.
Charles Randolph: And what would he have seen?
Ram Dass: Pain, sahib. He needs to be cared for.
Charles Randolph: He's not my responsibility.
Ram Dass: A wise man would remember that this soldier was in John's regiment. If his memory returns... he might tell sahib what happened to his son. Perhaps sahib would learn that John is in British hospital now wishing a kind man would take him home... away from his pain.
Miss Minchin: Sara, this is Monsieur Dufarge. You will begin French lessons with him this afternoon.
Sara Crewe: Do I have to?
Miss Minchin: Sara! You most certainly do! Now apologize to Monsieur this instant for your rudeness!
Sara Crewe: But I didn't mean to be rude.
Miss Minchin: [shouts] Now!
[Sara says three sentences entirely in French. Monsieur Dufarge looks at her through his monicle impressed]
Monsieur Dufarge: This child doesn't need to learn French, she practically *is* French! Says she learned it from her father.
Miss Minchin: I understood perfectly well what she said, Monsieur.
Sara Crewe: I'm sorry, but we tried to tell you.
Monsieur Dufarge: Well, perhaps she can tutor the younger children, and she might just be able to help you with your pronunciation, Miss Minchin.
[sniffs deeply]
Monsieur Dufarge: Are those sausages I smell? Oh...
Sara Crewe: Do I have to?
Miss Minchin: Sara! You most certainly do! Now apologize to Monsieur this instant for your rudeness!
Sara Crewe: But I didn't mean to be rude.
Miss Minchin: [shouts] Now!
[Sara says three sentences entirely in French. Monsieur Dufarge looks at her through his monicle impressed]
Monsieur Dufarge: This child doesn't need to learn French, she practically *is* French! Says she learned it from her father.
Miss Minchin: I understood perfectly well what she said, Monsieur.
Sara Crewe: I'm sorry, but we tried to tell you.
Monsieur Dufarge: Well, perhaps she can tutor the younger children, and she might just be able to help you with your pronunciation, Miss Minchin.
[sniffs deeply]
Monsieur Dufarge: Are those sausages I smell? Oh...
Miss Minchin: [after a young chimney sweep falls into the fireplace] UGH! Soot all over the place! You clumsy fool, GET OUT! Get out of my house this instant!
[as Sara works, she witnesses Minchin taking the boy out by his ear]
Miss Minchin: And you can forget being paid this week! Ungrateful little wretch!
[Minchin leaves, but the boy goes back to her in anger]
Miss Minchin: No, you don't! I told you, I wouldn't tolerate this life of any soot in this house! And there - just look at my boot! IT'S FILTHY!
[the boy goes angry going back to her again]
Miss Minchin: Get out - OUT!
[kicks him out again and throws his chimney sweeper out as well]
Miss Minchin: And take this ridiculous-looking thing with you!
[slams the door]
[as Sara works, she witnesses Minchin taking the boy out by his ear]
Miss Minchin: And you can forget being paid this week! Ungrateful little wretch!
[Minchin leaves, but the boy goes back to her in anger]
Miss Minchin: No, you don't! I told you, I wouldn't tolerate this life of any soot in this house! And there - just look at my boot! IT'S FILTHY!
[the boy goes angry going back to her again]
Miss Minchin: Get out - OUT!
[kicks him out again and throws his chimney sweeper out as well]
Miss Minchin: And take this ridiculous-looking thing with you!
[slams the door]
Miss Minchin: [after Sara makes up her own ending for the class's bedtime story] What are you doing?
Sara Crewe: I couldn't bare to see Charlotte marry that awful man, so I imagined a different ending.
Miss Minchin: You imagined it?
Sara Crewe: [nodding] Don't you ever do that, Miss Minchin? Believe in something just to make it seem real?
Miss Minchin: I suppose that's rather easy for a child who has everything.
[announcing to the rest of the class]
Miss Minchin: And now from now on, there will be no more 'make believe' at this school during reading hour or at any other time. Is that understood?
Girls: [in unison] Yes, Miss Minchin.
Miss Minchin: Now all of you go to your beds this instant.
Sara Crewe: I couldn't bare to see Charlotte marry that awful man, so I imagined a different ending.
Miss Minchin: You imagined it?
Sara Crewe: [nodding] Don't you ever do that, Miss Minchin? Believe in something just to make it seem real?
Miss Minchin: I suppose that's rather easy for a child who has everything.
[announcing to the rest of the class]
Miss Minchin: And now from now on, there will be no more 'make believe' at this school during reading hour or at any other time. Is that understood?
Girls: [in unison] Yes, Miss Minchin.
Miss Minchin: Now all of you go to your beds this instant.
