Celia Johnson: Miss Mackay
Photos
Quotes
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Jean Brodie : Miss Mackay, since you were first appointed headmistress of Marcia Blain, you have done nothing but try to dismiss me from the teaching staff. You have tried every feeble excuse, even that of immorality, and failed. Now you are accusing me of preaching politics to my pupils. Such a continuous personal vendetta is hardly conducive to the dignity of your position.
Miss Mackay : Miss Brodie, I don't think you quite understand. Let me make the situation perfectly clear. It is not I, but the board of governors, who have pursued this investigation to its conclusion. And it is the board of governors who, after having given due consideration to the grave charges laid against you, have given instructions that you leave this school immediately, and that your classes be taken over tomorrow morning by another teacher. The board have asked me to convey to you the fact that your salary will be paid in full until the end of the term which, in the circumstances, is more than generous. Miss Brodie, there is nothing more to be said
Jean Brodie : I shall not accept the board's action. I shall petition. I shall put the question before the public, before the parents, and the student body. You will find, Miss Mackay, that I have the loyalty of my girls!
Miss Mackay : [Smirking] Do you, Miss Brodie?
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Jean Brodie : [after Miss Mackay has read a supposedly incriminating letter, written by Sandy and Jenny] There's very little for me to say, Miss Mackay in the face of your extraordinary prejudice and hostility.
Miss Mackay : Miss Brodie, I am not asking you to say anything. I am asking... demanding... that you put your signature, your own signature, on a letter of resignation which I have prepared for you.
Jean Brodie : I will not resign.
Miss Mackay : If you will not resign, you will force me to dismiss you.
Jean Brodie : I will not resign and you will not dismiss me, Miss Mackay. You will not use the excuse of that pathetic, that humorous document to blackmail me! Mr. Lowther, you are a witness to this. Miss Mackay has made totally unsupported accusations against my name and yours. If she has one authentic shred of evidence, just one, let her bring it forth! Otherwise, if one more word of this outrageous calumny reaches my ears, I shall sue! I shall take Miss Mackay to the public courts and I shall sue the trustees of Marcia Blaine, if they support her. I will not stand quietly by and allow myself to be crucified by a woman whose fetid frustration has overcome her judgment! If scandal is to your taste, Miss Mackay, I shall give you a feast!
Miss Mackay : Miss Brodie!
Jean Brodie : I am a teacher! I am a teacher, first, last, always! Do you imagine that for one instant I will let that be taken from me without a fight? I have dedicated, sacrificed my life to this profession. And I will not stand by like an inky little slacker and watch you rob me of it and for what? For what reason? For jealousy! Because I have the gift of claiming girls for my own. It is true I am a strong influence on my girls. I am proud of it! I influence them to be aware of all the possibilities of life... of beauty, honor, courage. I do not, Miss Mackay, influence them to look for slime where it does not exist! I am going. When my class convenes, my pupils will find me composed and prepared to reveal to them the succession of the Stuarts. And on Sunday, I will go to Cramond to visit Mr. Lowther. We are accustomed, bachelor and spinster, to spend our Sundays together in sailing and walking the beaches and in the pursuit of music. Mr. Lowther is teaching me to play the mandolin. Good day, Miss Mackay.
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Jean Brodie : Surely you cannot believe that this is the work of nine-year-olds?
Miss Mackay : I could believe it was the work of your nine-year-olds!
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Miss Mackay : [on "La Traviata"] Violetta was a thoroughly silly woman with diseased lungs.
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Miss Mackay : Culture is no compensation for lack of hard knowledge.
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Miss Mackay : I'm always impressed by Miss Brodie's girls... in one way or another.
