Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day 2008 quotes

Delysia

Do you know what my name is, Guinevere?

Guinevere

I was under the impression it was Delysia Lafosse.

Delysia

Sarah Grubb. One of the Pittsburg Grubbs. My father is a steelworker. No one else in the world knows that apart from Michael. And he doesn't judge me.

Guinevere

No, he wouldn't.

Delysia

But you do.

Guinevere

Me? I certainly do not.

Delysia

Oh, you think you don't, but you do. For all the fancy apartments and fashion shows, do you know how close I am to having nothing? Every day I wake up and I think, if I make the wrong move, I could be out on that street with no clothes, no food, no job, and no friends. Just plain old Sarah Grubb again. Do you know what that's like?

Guinevere

Yes, I do.

Delysia

You do?

Guinevere

In that, at least, we are alike.

Edythe

Told you about Gerry, has she? Didn't take you long to move on, hmm Joe?

Joe

Hello Edythe.

Edythe

Did she also tell you that she hangs around the soup kitchen at the station? A tramp masquerading as some sort of social secretary, my God.

Guinevere

Goodbye Mr. Blumfield. [goes back inside]

Joe

No, actually, she didn't. Neither about that, nor about you and Gerry. But I'm grateful for the truth for a change.

Guinevere

I'm afraid I walked in on your guest in his state of nature. I fear that I have outraged his sense of propriety.

Delysia

Oh no, Phil doesn't have one of those.

Guinevere

He's a much bigger boy than I had anticipated.

Delysia

Oh, you noticed that too.

Joe

That scarf, if I may say, looks perfect on you.

Guinevere

Well, thank you. It was a present. You know, I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever worn.

Joe

The flatterer has been out-flattered.

Guinevere

Sorry?

Joe

It's one of mine, the design. Last year, for Mimi Coture.

Guinevere

My goodness!

Joe

You really didn't know? Well that is a compliment indeed, madam, thank you.

Michael

Oh, they'll have me back in prison for this. [Guinevere flinches back in terror] Oh. Nothing serious. Well, when I say serious...
[Guinevere flees in terror]

Joe

Am I right in thinking you're no longer employed, Miss Pettigrew?

Guinevere

Quite correct.

Joe

So you're free?

Guinevere

Quite free. Might you be looking for a social secretary?

Joe

No, absolutely not.

Guinevere

Oh...

Joe

I'm looking for you. I've been looking for you all night, and I believe, all of my life. If you'll have me. [Guinevere is stunned into silence] A nod of the head will do me fine. [Guinevere nods] And I am, at a stroke, the happiest man in London.

Guinevere

I will never forget the day we spent together. Not ever.

Delysia

Nor I... Oh, goodbye Guinevere, I love you!

Guinevere

They don't remember the last one.

Joe

No. No, they don't.

Guinevere

Dare I ask what happened?

Michael

After an hour and a half of bobbing around on my own, I opened the champagne. One glass didn't seem enough, one thing led to another... then I had a bit of a brainwave as we floated past the Tower of London.

Guinevere

Oh, dear.

Michael

Decided the ring I had wasn't good enough for her. And when a man wants a diamond, what better place to get one than the Tower of London? Well, the rest is all a bit hazy...

Delysia

Guinevere, I'm scared!

Guinevere

It's just a drill, I'm sure it's just a drill.

Delysia

But it won't always be, will it? We're going to war, aren't we?

Guinevere

Yes we are. And that is why you must not waste a second of this precious life. Listen to me. Once I too had ambitions. Not your grand ones, simple ambitions. Marriage, children and a house of our own. He died, in the mud in France. A good, solid man. You would call him dull, no doubt, but he smiled whenever he saw me and we could've built a life on that. Your heart knows the truth, Delysia. Trust it.

Guinevere

I don't think I can bear it again.

Joe

Did you lose many?

Guinevere

Just one. You?

Joe

Almost every school friend I had. One tries to forget.

Guinevere

If only one could.

Joe

You know, I've distracted myself with ridiculous things; youth, parties, lingerie. I mean, I trained in socks for goodness sake.

Guinevere

Socks?

Joe

There's a great deal of engineering in a gentlemen's sock, I'll have you know. In the stitching of the heel. By comparison, designing a brassiere is a piece of cake. Not that there aren't compensations.

Guinevere

None of them over 20, I imagine.

Joe

And all very easy on the eyes. But you know what? I'm done with it. I'm going back to gentlemen's hosiery. You know where you are with an honest pair of socks.

Guinevere

You certainly do.

Joe

Are you all right?

Guinevere

Yes. Well, to take another woman's escort.

Joe Blumfield

You didn't take me. I took you. I'm sure Edythe can cope. What happened to that particularly beautiful scarf you were wearing at the fashion show?

Guinevere

What are you talking about?

Joe

Despite your most elegant transformation, the body is still the same.

Guinevere

Mr. Blumfield!

Joe

As are the eyes. Most fetching if I may say.

Guinevere

I'm not sure you should say.

Joe

I'm sorry; an occupational habit. A bad one. I have to remember you're not like these people.

Guinevere

Am I terribly old fashioned?

Joe

Indeed you are. And all the better for it.

Delysia Lafosse

Guinevere, Sarah Grubb is not going to judge anybody for 'pretending'.

Guinevere Pettigrew

I have no one. I am not an expert on love, I am an expert on the lack of love, Delysia, and that is a fate from which I wish more fervently to save you.

Delysia Lafosse

Men are so untrusting. I can't think why