Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Quotes
Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse.
Delysia: [during an air-raid drill] Guinevere, I'm scared!
Guinevere Pettigrew: It's just a drill, I'm sure it's just a drill.
Delysia: But it won't always be, will it? We're going to war, aren't we?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Yes we are. And that is why you must not waste a second of this precious life. Listen to me. Once I too had ambitions. Not your grand ones, simple ambitions. Marriage, children and a house of our own. He died, in the mud in France. A good, solid man. You would call him dull, no doubt, but he smiled whenever he saw me and we could've built a life on that. Your heart knows the truth, Delysia. Trust it.
Guinevere Pettigrew: It's just a drill, I'm sure it's just a drill.
Delysia: But it won't always be, will it? We're going to war, aren't we?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Yes we are. And that is why you must not waste a second of this precious life. Listen to me. Once I too had ambitions. Not your grand ones, simple ambitions. Marriage, children and a house of our own. He died, in the mud in France. A good, solid man. You would call him dull, no doubt, but he smiled whenever he saw me and we could've built a life on that. Your heart knows the truth, Delysia. Trust it.
Michael: Pure and simple, I want you to marry me, and it's a one word conversation Delysia.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Don't you think, that on such a momentous occasion, a little time should be allowed?
Michael: Oh, stalling tactic. Is it because I'm not rich enough for her?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Certainly not.
Michael: Well, it's true. I'm wearing most of my worldly possessions. I could never afford this kind of blackmail.
[gestures around Nick's flat]
Delysia: Oh, and who pays you for playing the piano, huh? Are you telling me you give Nick his money back after every show?
Michael: No, and every damned shilling I take hurts me to the bone, which is why it's got to change Delysia. Money or love, that's the question I'm asking. Here's the deal: I'll play for you today, Delysia, and for the rest of your life if you'll marry me. Never again if you don't.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Don't you think, that on such a momentous occasion, a little time should be allowed?
Michael: Oh, stalling tactic. Is it because I'm not rich enough for her?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Certainly not.
Michael: Well, it's true. I'm wearing most of my worldly possessions. I could never afford this kind of blackmail.
[gestures around Nick's flat]
Delysia: Oh, and who pays you for playing the piano, huh? Are you telling me you give Nick his money back after every show?
Michael: No, and every damned shilling I take hurts me to the bone, which is why it's got to change Delysia. Money or love, that's the question I'm asking. Here's the deal: I'll play for you today, Delysia, and for the rest of your life if you'll marry me. Never again if you don't.
Delysia: Do you know what my name is, Guinevere?
Guinevere Pettigrew: I was under the impression it was Delysia Lafosse.
Delysia: Sarah Grubb. One of the Pittsburg Grubbs. My father is a steelworker. No one else in the world knows that apart from Michael. And he doesn't judge me.
Guinevere Pettigrew: No, he wouldn't.
Delysia: But you do.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Me? I certainly do not.
Delysia: Oh, you think you don't, but you do. For all the fancy apartments and fashion shows, do you know how close I am to having nothing? Every day I wake up and I think, if I make the wrong move, I could be out on that street with no clothes, no food, no job, and no friends. Just plain old Sarah Grubb again. Do you know what that's like?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Yes, I do.
Delysia: You do?
Guinevere Pettigrew: In that, at least, we are alike.
Guinevere Pettigrew: I was under the impression it was Delysia Lafosse.
Delysia: Sarah Grubb. One of the Pittsburg Grubbs. My father is a steelworker. No one else in the world knows that apart from Michael. And he doesn't judge me.
Guinevere Pettigrew: No, he wouldn't.
Delysia: But you do.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Me? I certainly do not.
Delysia: Oh, you think you don't, but you do. For all the fancy apartments and fashion shows, do you know how close I am to having nothing? Every day I wake up and I think, if I make the wrong move, I could be out on that street with no clothes, no food, no job, and no friends. Just plain old Sarah Grubb again. Do you know what that's like?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Yes, I do.
Delysia: You do?
Guinevere Pettigrew: In that, at least, we are alike.
Delysia: Is the offer still open?
Nick: Get up!
[Michael stands and nick knocks him back down with a punch to the nose]
Delysia: Well, is it a yes or is it a no?
Michael: What?
Delysia: Well will you doggone marry me or will you doggone not?
[he grins in delight, scrambles up, socks Nick square in the jaw, and pulls Delysia to her feet]
Michael: Yes. God help me, yes!
[they kiss fervently]
Nick: Get up!
[Michael stands and nick knocks him back down with a punch to the nose]
Delysia: Well, is it a yes or is it a no?
Michael: What?
Delysia: Well will you doggone marry me or will you doggone not?
[he grins in delight, scrambles up, socks Nick square in the jaw, and pulls Delysia to her feet]
Michael: Yes. God help me, yes!
[they kiss fervently]
Miss Holt: [reading from a report] "Washburn, Jane. Age five."
Guinevere Pettigrew: Lovely girl.
Miss Holt: "Lost in the park."
Guinevere Pettigrew: Independence, that's all that girl needs.
Miss Holt: "For six hours. The Randle boys, John and Robin. Wrestled retired Colonel Johnson to the floor outside Fortnum and Mason's, shouting 'Nazi warmonger'. Because," and I quote, "Miss Pettigrew thought he was a German spy."
Guinevere Pettigrew: [unconvincingly] A little... joke.
Miss Holt: "Ambulance called, police called."
Guinevere Pettigrew: Lovely girl.
Miss Holt: "Lost in the park."
Guinevere Pettigrew: Independence, that's all that girl needs.
Miss Holt: "For six hours. The Randle boys, John and Robin. Wrestled retired Colonel Johnson to the floor outside Fortnum and Mason's, shouting 'Nazi warmonger'. Because," and I quote, "Miss Pettigrew thought he was a German spy."
Guinevere Pettigrew: [unconvincingly] A little... joke.
Miss Holt: "Ambulance called, police called."
Joe Blumfield: That scarf, if I may say, looks perfect on you.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Well, thank you. It was a present. You know, I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever worn.
Joe Blumfield: The flatterer has been out-flattered.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Sorry?
Joe Blumfield: It's one of mine, the design. Last year, for Mimi Coture.
Guinevere Pettigrew: My goodness!
Joe Blumfield: You really didn't know? Well that is a compliment indeed.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Well, thank you. It was a present. You know, I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever worn.
Joe Blumfield: The flatterer has been out-flattered.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Sorry?
Joe Blumfield: It's one of mine, the design. Last year, for Mimi Coture.
Guinevere Pettigrew: My goodness!
Joe Blumfield: You really didn't know? Well that is a compliment indeed.
Edythe: Transformations work both ways, Guinevere. It would take me thirty seconds to put you back in the soup kitchen queue. I told you I never forget a face. Victoria Station.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Nor have I forgotten with whom you shared a taxi last night.
Edythe: Oh, you have. If you want to continue working for Delysia, you have. Now, we all of us need things in our life. I need Joe for his, well, he's a man of connections. And you need, you need to stay off the streets, I imagine.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Nor have I forgotten with whom you shared a taxi last night.
Edythe: Oh, you have. If you want to continue working for Delysia, you have. Now, we all of us need things in our life. I need Joe for his, well, he's a man of connections. And you need, you need to stay off the streets, I imagine.
Edythe: Told you about Gerry, has she? Didn't take you long to move on, hmm Joe?
Joe Blumfield: Hello Edythe.
Edythe: Did she also tell you that she hangs around the soup kitchen at the station? A tramp masquerading as some sort of social secretary, my God.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Goodbye Mr. Blumfield.
[exits]
Joe Blumfield: No, actually, she didn't. Neither about that, nor about you and Gerry. But I'm grateful for the truth for a change.
Joe Blumfield: Hello Edythe.
Edythe: Did she also tell you that she hangs around the soup kitchen at the station? A tramp masquerading as some sort of social secretary, my God.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Goodbye Mr. Blumfield.
[exits]
Joe Blumfield: No, actually, she didn't. Neither about that, nor about you and Gerry. But I'm grateful for the truth for a change.
Joe Blumfield: Are you all right?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Yes. Well, to take another woman's escort.
Joe Blumfield: You didn't take me. I took you. I'm sure Edythe can cope. What happened to that particularly beautiful scarf you were wearing at the fashion show?
Guinevere Pettigrew: What are you talking about?
Joe Blumfield: Despite your most elegant transformation, the body is still the same.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Mr. Blumfield!
Joe Blumfield: As are the eyes. Most fetching if I may say.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Yes. Well, to take another woman's escort.
Joe Blumfield: You didn't take me. I took you. I'm sure Edythe can cope. What happened to that particularly beautiful scarf you were wearing at the fashion show?
Guinevere Pettigrew: What are you talking about?
Joe Blumfield: Despite your most elegant transformation, the body is still the same.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Mr. Blumfield!
Joe Blumfield: As are the eyes. Most fetching if I may say.
Joe Blumfield: I've distracted myself with ridiculous things; youth, parties, lingerie. I mean, I trained in *socks* for goodness sake.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Socks?
Joe Blumfield: There's a great deal on engineering in a gentlemen's sock, I'll have you know. In the stitching of the heel. By comparison, designing a brassiere is a piece of cake. Not that there aren't compensations.
Guinevere Pettigrew: None of them over 20 I imagine.
Joe Blumfield: And all very easy on the eyes. But you know what? I'm done with it. I'm going back to gentlemen's hosiery. You know where you are with an honest pair of socks.
Guinevere Pettigrew: You certainly do.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Socks?
Joe Blumfield: There's a great deal on engineering in a gentlemen's sock, I'll have you know. In the stitching of the heel. By comparison, designing a brassiere is a piece of cake. Not that there aren't compensations.
Guinevere Pettigrew: None of them over 20 I imagine.
Joe Blumfield: And all very easy on the eyes. But you know what? I'm done with it. I'm going back to gentlemen's hosiery. You know where you are with an honest pair of socks.
Guinevere Pettigrew: You certainly do.
Joe Blumfield: Forgive the intrusion. I'm glad to see you're safe.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Oh yes, quite safe.
Joe Blumfield: Am I right in thinking you're no longer employed, Miss Pettigrew?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Quite correct.
Joe Blumfield: So you're free?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Quite free. Might you be looking for a social secretary?
Joe Blumfield: No, absolutely not.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Oh.
Joe Blumfield: I'm looking for you.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Me?
Joe Blumfield: I've been looking for you all night, and I believe, all of my life. If you'll have me.
[Miss Pettigrew is stunned in silence]
Joe Blumfield: A nod of the head will do me fine.
[Miss Pettigrew nods]
Joe Blumfield: And I am, at a stroke, the happiest man in London.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Oh yes, quite safe.
Joe Blumfield: Am I right in thinking you're no longer employed, Miss Pettigrew?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Quite correct.
Joe Blumfield: So you're free?
Guinevere Pettigrew: Quite free. Might you be looking for a social secretary?
Joe Blumfield: No, absolutely not.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Oh.
Joe Blumfield: I'm looking for you.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Me?
Joe Blumfield: I've been looking for you all night, and I believe, all of my life. If you'll have me.
[Miss Pettigrew is stunned in silence]
Joe Blumfield: A nod of the head will do me fine.
[Miss Pettigrew nods]
Joe Blumfield: And I am, at a stroke, the happiest man in London.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Mrs. Brummegen was, well, fond of the sherry, if you take my meaning. As a vicar's daughter I found her rather difficult.
Miss Holt: She found you rather difficult, Miss Pettigrew, and that is, I'm afraid, a recurring theme.
Guinevere Pettigrew: A person can change.
Miss Holt: I haven't seen any sign of that.
Guinevere Pettigrew: She could stop drinking.
Miss Holt: ...Our clients don't adapt to suit your needs, Miss Pettigrew. You adapt to them.
Miss Holt: She found you rather difficult, Miss Pettigrew, and that is, I'm afraid, a recurring theme.
Guinevere Pettigrew: A person can change.
Miss Holt: I haven't seen any sign of that.
Guinevere Pettigrew: She could stop drinking.
Miss Holt: ...Our clients don't adapt to suit your needs, Miss Pettigrew. You adapt to them.
