This stinks.
Margaret Don't say 'stinks,' darling. If absolutely necessary, 'smells' - but only if absolutely necessary.
Played by Mary Nash 
The Philadelphia Story (1940) · 82 quotes
The Philadelphia Story (1940) · 82 quotes
5th most-quoted character in The Philadelphia Story (1940): in 11 of its 82 quotes
Most scenes with: Tracy Samantha Lord (6), Dinah Lord (4), Macaulay 'Mike' Connor (3)
Scenes with Margaret
11 scenes Margaret 
If you just face the facts squarely as I did.
Margaret We both might face the fact that neither of us have proved to be a very great success as a wife.
We just picked the wrong first husbands, that's all.
Isn't George an angel?...Is he handsome or is he not?
Margaret George is handsome.
I like Dexter.
Really. Why don't you postpone the wedding?
How?
Get smallpox.
Margaret Now don't put the idea in her head.
She's so mean about Dexter.
Margaret He was rather mean to her, my dear.
Did he really sock her?
Margaret Please, Dinah.
Did he really?
Margaret Darling. You go out and wait in the car.
The papers were full of 'innundo.'
Margaret Of what?
Of 'innundo.' 'Cruelty and drunkenness,' it said. She's sort of, well you know, hard, isn't she?
Margaret Certainly not. Tracy sets exceptionally high standards for herself, that's all. And other people aren't always quite apt to live up to them.
But don't you think it's stinking not at least to want father?
Margaret Yes, darling. Between ourselves, I think it's good and stinking.
[on the telephone]
This is the Bridal Suite. Would you send up a couple of caviar sandwiches and a bottle of beer?
Margaret What? Who is this?
This is the Voice of Doom calling. Your days are numbered, to the seventh son of the seventh son!
Margaret Hello? Hello?
What's the matter?
Margaret I think one of the servants has been at the sherry again.
Margaret Oh, dear. Is there no such thing as privacy any more?
Only in bed, mother, and not always there.
They aren't anybody's friends, but we're to pretend they are...Don't ask me, there's a good reason and it's my wedding, so please!
I'll bet it's on account of father and that dancer in New York.
Watching every little mannerism, jotting down notes on how we sit, stand, talk, and even move...And all in that horrible, snide, corkscrew English. Well, if we have to submit to it to save father's face, which [she covers Dinah's ears] incidentally doesn't deserve it, I'm for giving them a picture of home life that will stand their hair on end.
Margaret No. Tracy, we must just be ourselves. Very much ourselves.
Margaret Are you one of the musicians?
No!
Margaret Oh, of course, you're Junius's friend. Only you're not. Do you have any violin strings?
I have an aspirin. Will that work?
Margaret I don't think so; It's for a violin. Oh well, no matter!
Margaret The course of true love...
...gathers no moss.
[posing as Mr. Lord]
I don't suppose a man ever had a better or finer family. You know, I often wake up in the night and say to myself, Seth - you lucky dog. What have you done to deserve it all?
Margaret And what have you?
Of course, inasmuch as you let us in for it in the first place.
Mr. Lord
Oh, do keep that note out of your voice, Tracy. It's very unattractive.
Oh? How does your dancer friend talk? Or does she purr?
Margaret Tracy!
Mr. Lord
Oh, it's quite all right, Margaret.
Sweet and low, I suppose. Dulcet, very lady-like. You've got a heck of a nerve to come back here in your best-head-of-the-family manner and make stands and strike attitudes and criticize my fiancee and give orders and mess things up generally...
Margaret Stop it instantly!
I can't help it. It's sickening. As if he'd done nothing at all!
Mr. Lord
Which happens to be the truth.
Margaret Anyway, it's not your affair, Tracy, if it concerns anyone. Well actually, I don't know whom it concerns except your father.
Mr. Lord
That's very wise of you, Margaret. What most wives fail to realize is that their husband's philandering has nothing whatever to do with them.
Oh? Then, what has it to do with?
Mr. Lord
A reluctance to grow old, I think. I suppose the best mainstay a man can have as he gets along in years is a daughter - the right kind of daughter.
How sweet!
Mr. Lord
No, no. I'm talking seriously about something I've thought over thoroughly. I've had to. I think a devoted young girl gives a man the illusion that youth is still his.
Very important, I suppose.
Mr. Lord
Oh, very, very. Because without her, he might be inclined to go out in search of his youth. And that's just as important to him as it is to any woman. But with a girl of his own full of warmth for him, full of foolish, unquestioning, uncritical affection -
None of which I've got -
Mr. Lord
None. You have a good mind, a pretty face, a disciplined body that does what you tell it to. You have everything it takes to make a lovely woman except the one essential - an understanding heart. And without that, you might just as well be made of bronze.
That's an awful thing to say to anyone.
Mr. Lord
Yes, it is indeed.
So, I'm to blame for Tina Mara, am I?
Mr. Lord
To a certain extent, I expect you are.
You coward.
Mr. Lord
No. But better that than a prig or a perennial spinster, however many marriages.
Margaret Seth, that's too much.
Mr. Lord
I'm afraid it's not enough, Margaret. I'm afraid nothing is.
What, what did you say I was?
Mr. Lord
Do you want me to repeat it?
'A prig and a...' You mean, you think I think I'm some kind of a goddess or something?
Mr. Lord
If your ego wants it that way, yes. Also, you've been talking like a jealous woman.
'A...' What's the matter with everyone all at once, anyhow?
