Esther Smith [singing]
The moment I saw him smile
I knew he was just my style.
My only regret is we've never met,
Though I dream of him all the while.
Most-quoted character in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944): in 18 of its 43 quotes
Most scenes with: Rose Smith (3), John Truett (3)
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley,
Ding, ding, ding went the bell.
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings,
As we started for Huntingdon dell.
More lines from Esther Smith
10 quotes Esther Smith Esther Smith [singing]
How can I ignore the Boy Next Door?
I love him more than I can say.
Doesn't try to please me, doesn't even tease me.
And he never sees me glance his way.
And though I'm heartsore, the Boy Next Door,
Affection for me won't display.
I just adore him, so I can't ignore him,
The Boy Next Door.
Esther Smith [to Mr. Smith]
Well, Papa, if losing a case depresses you so, why don't you quit practicing law and go into another line of business?
Esther Smith [to Mr. Smith, after he hangs up on a caller]
You've just ruined Rose's chance to get married, that's all...That was Warren Sheffield calling long-distance to propose.
Esther Smith Well, I'll bet there isn't another girl in St. Louis who's had a Yale man call her long-distance just to inquire about her health.
Esther Smith [singing]
I went to lose a jolly, hour on the trolley, and lost my heart instead
With his light brown derby and his bright green tie
He was quite the handsomest of men
I started to yen, then I counted to ten, then I counted to ten again.
Esther Smith John Truett. I've come here to ask you something...What do you mean hitting a nine-year-old child?...The next time you want to hit somebody, pick on somebody your own size. If there's anything I hate, loathe, despise, and abominate, it's a bully.
Esther Smith [after finding out that Tootie had lied about John Truett]
You're the most deceitful, horrible, sinful creature I ever saw, and I don't ever want to have anything to do with you again.
Esther Smith [to her Grandpa]
You're the first human being I've danced with all evening. It's our last dance in St. Louis. I feel like I'm going to cry.
Esther Smith New York is a wonderful town. Everybody dreams about going there. But we're luckier than lots of families because we're really going. Wait until you see the fine home we're going to have and the loads and loads of friends we'll make. Wonderful friends. But the main thing Tootie is that we're all going to be together just like we've always been. That's what really counts. We could be happy anywhere as long as we're together.
Scenes with Esther Smith
7 scenes Esther She may be loathe to say the things a girl's compelled to say to get a proposal out of a man.
Katie Personally, I wouldn't marry a man who proposed to me over an invention.
Esther I'm going to let John Truett kiss me tonight.
Esther Smith!
Esther Well, if we're going to get married, I may as well start it.
Nice girls don't let men kiss them until after they're engaged. Men don't want the bloom rubbed off.
Esther Personally, I think I have too much bloom. Maybe that's the trouble with me.
Esther [John kisses Esther]
You've got a mighty strong grip for a boy.
If there ever was a time we definitely needed every ounce of allure, it's tonight. If we're going to wreck Lucille Ballard's evening, we've simply got to be a sensation.
Esther Rose, don't you think I could be a sensation without the corset?
You're competing with an Eastern girl. I'll wager Lucille Ballard doesn't make a move without a corset.
Esther Well, I certainly don't relish wearing this thing. But pride has come to the rescue. For tonight, I'll do anything.
It'll be worth it. If we can create a breathtaking effect, it'll be simple to monopolize all the worthwhile men.
Esther Exactly. There are only going to be about twenty boys worth looking at anyway. We can certainly handle twenty men. I should hope! Can you handle ten?
Seven or eight.
Esther If you'll guarantee eight, I can handle the rest of them.
What about John Truett?
Esther Oh, I'll devote myself to John. But in between times, I'm going to make my presence felt amongst the others.
[after proposing to Esther]
I wouldn't have said it, Esther, if I'd thought it would make you cry.
Esther [crying]
I've imagined you saying it thousands of times. And I always planned exactly how I'd act. I never planned to cry.
Well, at least you didn't laugh...I never asked a girl to marry me before...
Esther John, nobody could have done it more beautifully. I'm very proud.
Esther, will you? Will you, Esther?
Esther Of course I will, John.
Esther I kept telling myself that even if I did go away, we'd find some way to be together. Well, I never really believed it.
When you go to New York, it will be with your husband. Your folks can show us the town, meet us at the station. Let's go in and tell them now.
Esther Oh no, not tonight. I mean, I'd rather that just the two of us knew about it tonight. Even if I did go to New York, we could still work something out somehow, couldn't we?
Esther [about the Palace of Electricity at the World's Fair]
Oh, isn't it breathtaking, John! I never dreamed anything could be so beautiful.
There's never been anything like it in the whole world.
We don't have to come here on a train or stay in a hotel. It's right in our own home town.
Grandpa? They'll never tear it down, will they?
Grandpa Well, they'd better not.
Esther I can't believe it. Right here where we live. Right here in St. Louis.
