Old Acquaintance (1943)

Bette Davis: Katherine 'Kit' Marlowe

Photos 

Quotes 

• Kit Marlowe : Deidre, come out from behind that screen.

  [a pause] 

  Kit Marlowe : Deidre, come out, or do you want me to come back there and drag you out.

  Deirdre Drake : [emerging from behind screen]  How did you know I was there?

  Kit Marlowe : My dear, I was hiding behind screens before you were born.

• Kit Marlowe : I'd better get out of here, Millie, before I do something I'll be very sorry for.

  Millie Drake : Yes, go! And if you think I want you to come back ever you're wrong! Well? why don't you go?

  Kit Marlowe : In just a minute.

  [She puts down her parcels, crosses the room, grabs Millie by the shoulders and shakes her violently, then shoves her so she falls on the sofa] 

  Kit Marlowe : Sorry.

  [She picks up her things and exits, leaving Millie throwing a tantrum] 

• Belle Carter : [to Kit]  Tell me, how is your new book coming along?

  Kit Marlowe : Well, I write and I write, and I still don't like it.

  Belle Carter : But, at least when you do turn one out, it's a gem! None of this grinding them out like sausage...

  Belle Carter : [she realizes that she has just insulted Millie and pauses with embarrassment]  I suppose I could cut my throat.

  Millie Drake : [clearly offended]  There's a knife on the table!

• Kit Marlowe : It's late, and I'm very, very tired of youth and love and self-sacrifice.

• Kit Marlowe : I know... my fatal beauty drives men mad.

• Kit Marlowe : There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne.

• Kit Marlowe : If you'd just look at Millie's activities as confession of weakness, an admission that there's something essentially lacking in her nature, you'd find it a little touching and love her.

  Preston Drake : You sound like one of Millie's books.

• Kit Marlowe : Millie remembers the same things I do, that's important. For instance, she's the only person I know, who still remembers when I used to be called Chunky.

  Preston Drake : I'd think you wouldn't want to remember that.

  Kit Marlowe : But one does. Funny, one does.

• Kit Marlowe : [responding to a question about Millie's daughter Deidre]  Well, she's really partly mine anyway. I was at the hospital when she was born. As a matter of fact, she gave me her first smile. Her mother said it was gas.

• Kit Marlowe : Cheer up, there's always what's left of the icing.

• Kit Marlowe : This is my second blooming. Life has been very good to me.

  [looking in a mirror] 

  Kit Marlowe : Oh, I would look like a hag of 90 when I want to look like Shirley Temple.

• Millie Drake : Where are your pajama pants?

  Kit Marlowe : Oh, I never use 'em.

  Millie Drake : No?

  Kit Marlowe : No.

  Millie Drake : Oh!

• Rudd Kendall : I'll give you two pennies for your thoughts.

  Kit Marlowe : Not enough. Cost you a quarter.

  Rudd Kendall : All right, I feel like splurging.

• Millie Drake : This changes everything.

  Kit Marlowe : Changes what?

  Millie Drake : My new book, the one I told you I was writing. You see, it's about two women friends. They're practically brought up together. They have their ups and downs, and finally...

  Kit Marlowe : You mean, like us?

  Millie Drake : Oh, the characters are all imaginary but, In a way, yes.

  Kit Marlowe : Millie, you never cease to amaze me.

• Kit Marlowe : [final lines]  What you going to call it?

  Millie Drake : Well, I'm not sure. I've had several ideas. What do you think of Auld Lang Syne?

  Kit Marlowe : Well, if it's about us, why not Old Acquaintance?

  Millie Drake : Old Acquaintance. Old Acquaintance. Of course, Kit.

  Kit Marlowe : Let's drink to that, Millie.

• Kit Marlowe : My dear, I was hiding behind screens before you were born.

• Kit Marlowe : What did she mean I - I looked as if I didn't shave?

  Preston Drake : Oh, don't let that worry you. I like girls who don't shave.

• Kit Marlowe : What could I do? I couldn't get away from those Amazons.

• Kit Marlowe : Millie, remember whenever we were in the dumps, your Mother used to say, "Don't worry, girls. There's always whats left of the icing."

  Millie Drake : I remember.

• Millie Drake : Preston, you know I don't like you to drink in the daytime.

  Kit Marlowe : Its as good a time as any.

• Kit Marlowe : Well, I'd better call that Broadbank wench.

• Kit Marlowe : Kit, you're just what I always thought you were, a pretty nice person.

  Preston Drake : Oh, pooh.

• Millie Drake : is it laziness or affectation that you don't like to see your name in print? Why, there are posters all over the place about your play and your name isn't any size. It's all Julia Broadbank.

  Kit Marlowe : Her name will bring in more people than mine.

  Millie Drake : But you're the author, you wrote the play. Why should you be pushed off the mat by actors?

• Kit Marlowe : I'm not so sure the play's any good.

  Millie Drake : Oh, you make me furious. Now, supposing I started one of my books with the attitude I wasn't sure about it. Where would I be?

  Kit Marlowe : Where I am, probably.

• Millie Drake : Oh, people are a nuisance. The only people I need are in my books. Outside of Preston and my baby, no one means anything.

  Kit Marlowe : Me, too?

• Kit Marlowe : You must remember, Millie... you've never not been sure about anything.

  Millie Drake : You mean I'm too sure?

  Kit Marlowe : I didn't say that. But you must admit, you're a very certain little woman.

  Millie Drake : Perhaps, I am. But I certainly couldn't see myself at our age waving in the breeze like a piece of limp rag.

• Millie Drake : Oh, Kit, hasn't there ever been anything in your life that you've really wanted?

  Kit Marlowe : Well, coming right at this moment, that's a hard question to answer. But you keep holding on, darling, and I'll keep wondering whether I should. And I may wave around like that limp rag, but there is a certain ecstasy in wanting things you know you can't get.

• Preston Drake : Hey, what's going on with you two? What's the joke?

  Millie Drake : Oh, our Kit's in a very rambunctious mood today. I think I must write a play sometime, and see if I can feel rambunctious.

  Kit Marlowe : I'm sure you will, Millie.

• Kit Marlowe : There are things you just don't do. There are things that a woman just can't do and this is one of them.

• Harriet : Your picture's in the paper.

  Kit Marlowe : Is it a good one?

  Harriet : I don't like it. You're much better looking than that.

  Kit Marlowe : Oh, thank you, Harriet.

  Harriet : I heard your speech last night, too. It was just fine. You're such a little thing, nobody'd think, to look at you... you had that much brains.

• Millie Drake : Kit, I want something more out of life than just books and a discontented daughter. We aren't getting any younger, you know.

  Kit Marlowe : Yes, Millie, I'm quite aware of that.

• Kit Marlowe : Deedy, you're looking very gay today.

  Deirdre Drake : Thanks, darling, I feel gay. So do you!

• Kit Marlowe : Harriet, I did something today that I've wanted to do for years and I feel perfectly marvelous.

• Kit Marlowe : Would you mind very much if I came in?

  Deirdre Drake : Not at all. Come in.

  Kit Marlowe : Charming. Typical bachelor's lair.

  Deirdre Drake : So you're the Katherine Marlowe.

  Kit Marlowe : I've often been referred to as that.

• Kit Marlowe : Deirdre, I have never made a practice of slapping people, but I'm dangerously close to slapping you right now.

• Kit Marlowe : Good luck, darling. Now you be happy. That's what I want most in the world, for you to be happy.

• Kit Marlowe : Well, Millie, you've always said you wanted to write what you call "an artistic flop." Maybe this will be it.

  Millie Drake : No, Kit. The public doesn't expect a sad ending from me. Two women left all alone like this.