Ida quotes from Mildred Pierce (1945)

Mildred

Wally, do me a favor...Take Veda home.

Wally

What?

Veda

Anyone would think I was a child.

Mildred

You are, and besides, it's past your bedtime.

Wally

Well it's not way past my bedtime. [To Mildred] Besides, I want to take you home.

Mildred

Wally, I've got to close up. I'll go home with Ida. Please, come on.

Wally

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.

Mildred

Good night, darling.

Veda

Good night, Mother. Goodnight, Mr. Beragon. Thank you for everything. I trust that we may meet again very soon.

Monte

Oh, I hope so.

Wally

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]

Ida

Leave something on me. I might catch cold.

Wally

Just thinking. Not about you.

Wally

I hate all women.

Ida

My, my.

Wally

Thank goodness you're not one.

Ida

You never used to drink during the day.

Mildred

I never used to drink at all. It's just a little habit I picked up from men.

Ida

Oh, men. I never yet met one of them who didn't have the instincts of a heel. Sometimes I wish I could get along without 'em.

Mildred

You've never been married, have you, Ida?

Ida

No. When men get around me, they get allergic to wedding rings. You know, 'Big sister type. Good old Ida. You can talk it over with her man to man.' I'm getting awfully tired of men talking to me man to man. I think I'll have a drink myself.

Mildred

I'll take mine straight.

Ida

Well, if you can take it, I can.
...

Mildred

Have you seen her, Ida? Is she all right?

Ida

Why don't you forget about her.

Mildred

I can't. I've tried, but I can't.

Ida

Well, try, try again. That's my motto.

Mildred

You don't know what it's like being a mother, Ida. Veda's a part of me. Maybe she didn't turn out as well as I hoped she would when she was born, but she's still my daughter and I can't forget that. I went away to try. I was so mixed up I didn't know where I was or what I wanted. But now I know. Now I'm sure of one thing at least. I want my daughter back.

Ida

Personally, Veda's convinced me that alligators have the right idea. They eat their young.