Monte You know, Mildred, in the spring, a young man's fancy lightly turns to what he's been thinking about all winter.
It's a good thing California winters are so short.
Played by Zachary Scott 
Mildred Pierce (1945) · 19 quotes
Mildred Pierce (1945) · 19 quotes
3rd most-quoted character in Mildred Pierce (1945): in 5 of its 19 quotes
Most scenes with: Mildred (4)
Mildred!
Scenes with Monte
4 scenes Monte Wally, do me a favor...Take Veda home.
What?
Anyone would think I was a child.
You are, and besides, it's past your bedtime.
Well it's not way past my bedtime. [To Mildred] Besides, I want to take you home.
Wally, I've got to close up. I'll go home with Ida. Please, come on.
OK, OK. Sure was a big night for me. I come out looking for an evening of fun and laughter and what do I get? Dishpan hands and a date with a Girl Scout.
Good night, darling.
Good night, Mother. Goodnight, Mr. Beragon. Thank you for everything. I trust that we may meet again very soon.
Monte Oh, I hope so.
Thank you for a divine evening, Mrs. Pierce. And I trust that I might see you again in the not too distant future. [To Monte] Good night. [To Veda] Come on, small fry. Come on, hurry up. [As he leaves, Wally leers at Ida]
Leave something on me. I might catch cold.
Just thinking. Not about you.
Look, Monte, I've worked long and hard trying to give Veda the things I never had. I've done without a lot of things, including happiness sometimes, because I wanted her to have everything. And now I'm losing her. She's drifting away from me. She hardly speaks to me anymore except to ask for money, or poke fun at me in French because I work for a living...I blame it on the way she's been living. I blame it on you.
Monte I don't think you understand Veda very well. She's not like you. You'll never make a waitress out of her.
You look down on me because I work for a living, don't you? You always have. All right, I work. I cook food and sell it and make a profit on it - which I might point out you're not too proud to share with me.
Monte Yes, I take money from you, Mildred. But not enough to make me like kitchens or cooks. They smell of grease.
I don't notice you shrinking away from a $50 dollar bill because it happens to smell of grease. You're interfering with my life and my business. And worst of all, you're interfering with my plans for Veda and I won't stand for it.
Monte You can go back to making your pies now, Mildred. We're through.
Monte You went to considerable trouble to get rid of me once. So naturally, I'm startled by your proposal of marriage. This is so sudden.
I have my own personal reason for wanting to marry you.
Monte A reason named Veda, I think.
Why should it be?
Monte 'Cause your reason for doing anything is usually Veda.
Well, whether it is or isn't, what's your answer?
Monte I can't afford you, Mildred. You have money and I haven't. All I have is pride and a name, and I can't sell either.
I see.
Monte I'm not enjoying this, Mildred. Things are very different now from the way they were in the beginning.
I know. I haven't forgotten.
Monte Neither have I. I want you to love me again the way you did then. I need that more than anything else. I'm lost without it. I told you that day I knew you were the only woman in the world for me. I loved you then, Mildred, and I love you now.
Well then why...
Monte I can't marry you. I won't go on taking tips from you as I used to. Of course, if I owned a share in your business...
Oh I see. I think I understand now. How much of a share would your pride require, Monte?
Monte Please don't put it that way, Mildred. You know it hurts me to do this. I'm only doing it because I...
How much of a share?
Monte One third.
All right. [He moves to kiss her. She raises her glass to block him.] Sold. One Beragon.
