Maria You know how Sister Berta always makes me kiss the floor after we've had a disagreement? Well, lately I've taken to kissing the floor whenever I see her coming, just to save time.
Most-quoted character in The Sound of Music (1965): in 28 of its 71 quotes
Most scenes with: Captain (7), Liesl (4), Elsa (3)
...the first three notes just happen to be, Do-Re-Mi. Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol[pronounced So]-La-Ti, oh let's see if I can make it easier.
[singing] Doe, a deer, a female deer, Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself, Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread, La, a note to follow Sol
Tea, a drink with jam and bread, that will bring us back to Do...
More lines from Maria
10 quotes Maria Maria Knowing how nervous I must have been - a stranger in a new household, knowing how important it was for me to feel accepted, it was so kind and thoughtful of you to make my first moments here so warm... and happy and... pleasant.
Maria [singing]
When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most any thing.
Maria Reverend Mother always says when the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window.
Maria I can't seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what's worse, I can't seem to stop saying things - anything and everything I think and feel
Maria There were times when we would look at each other, oh Mother I could hardly breathe.
Maria Oh, no, sir. I'm sorry, sir. I could never answer to a whistle. Whistles are for dogs and cats and other animals, but not for children and definitely not for me. It would be too... humiliating.
Maria Sorry Sir, I don't know your signal.
Maria Yes, well the children were scared of the thunderstorm and... You did, sir
Maria The poor didn't want this one.
Scenes with Maria
17 scenes Maria I just couldn't help myself. The gates were open and the hills were beckoning...I can't seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what's worse, I can't seem to stop saying things - anything and everything I think and feel.
: Some people would call that honesty.
Maria Oh, but it's terrible, Reverend Mother.
It's the dress. You'll have to put on another one before you meet the children.
Maria But I don't have another one. When we entered the abbey our worldly clothes were given to the poor.
What about this one?
Maria The poor didn't want this one.
You, Fraulein, will listen carefully. Learn their signals so that you can call them when you want them. Now, when I want you, this is what you will hear. [Blows whistle]
Maria Oh, no, sir, I'm sorry, sir. I could never answer to a whistle. Whistles are for dogs and cats and other animals, but not for children, and definitely not for me. It would be... too humiliating.
Fraulein, were you this much trouble at the Abbey?
Maria Oh, much more, sir.
Hmm.
Maria [Starts to leave the room when Maria blows the whistle. He looks back at her]
Excuse me, sir, I don't know your signal.
Fraulein Maria, did I not say that bedtime is to be strictly observed in this household?
Maria Yes, well the children were scared of the thunderstorm and... You did, sir.
And do you or do you not have trouble following these simple instructions?
Maria Only during thunderstorms.
How else are we supposed to get Father's attention?
Brigitta Yes.
Maria Well, we'll have to think about that one.
Maria Gretl, what happened to your finger?
It got caught.
Maria Caught in what?
Friedrich's teeth.
Is it possible, or could I have just imagined? Have my children by any chance been climbing trees today?
Maria Yes, Captain.
I see. And where, may I ask, did they get these, uhm, these...
Maria Playclothes.
Oh, is that what you call them?
Maria I made them, from the drapes that used to hang in my bedroom...They still had plenty of wear left. The children have been everywhere in them.
Do you mean to tell me that my children have been roaming about Salzburg dressed up in nothing but some old drapes?!
Maria Umm, hmm, and having a marvelous time.
They have uniforms.
Maria Straitjackets, if you'll forgive me.
I will not forgive you for that.
Maria Children cannot do all the things they're supposed to do if they have to worry about spoiling their precious clothes they wear....Well, they wouldn't dare. They love you too much. They fear you too much.
I don't wish you to discuss my children in this manner.
Maria Well, you've got to hear it from someone. You're never home long enough to know them.
I said I don't want to hear any more from you about my children.
Maria I know you don't, but you've got to! Oh please, Captain, love them, love them all.
Enough!.
Maria But I'm not finished!
[after listening to his children sing, and joining in]
You've brought music back into the house? Fraulein, I want you to stay. I ask you to stay.
My dear, is there anything you can't do?
Maria Well, I'm not sure I'll make a very good nun.
Oh, if you have any problems, I'd be happy to help you.
Now, where is that lovely little thing you were wearing the other evening, when the Captain couldn't keep his eyes off you.
Maria Couldn't keep his eyes off me?
Come, my dear, we are women. Let's not pretend we don't know when a man notices us...
Maria The Captain notices everybody and everything.
Well, there's no need to feel so defensive, Maria. You are quite attractive, you know. The Captain would hardly be a man if he didn't notice you.
Maria Baroness, I hope you're joking.
Not at all.
Maria But I've never done a thing to...
But you don't have to, Maria. There's nothing more irresistible to a man than a woman who's in love with him.
Maria 'In love with him'?
Of course. What makes it so nice is he thinks he's in love with you.
Maria But that's not true.
Oh surely you've noticed the way he looks into your eyes. And you know, uh, you blushed in his arms when you were dancing just now. Don't take it to heart. He'll get over it soon enough, I should think. Men do, you know.
Maria Then I should go. I mustn't stay here.
I'm sure you'll make a very fine nun.
Maria I left...I was frightened...I was confused, I felt, I've never felt that way before. I couldn't stay. I knew that here I'd be away from it. I'd be safe...I can't face him again...Oh, there were times when we would look at each other. Oh Mother, I could hardly breathe...That's what's been torturing me. I was there on God's errand. To have asked for his love would have been wrong. I couldn't stay, I just couldn't. I'm ready at this moment to take my vows. Please help me.
Maria, the love of a man and a woman is holy too. You have a great capacity to love. What you must find out is how God wants you to spend your love.
Maria But I pledged my life to God. I pledged my life to his service.
My daughter, if you love this man, it doesn't mean you love God less. No, you must find out and you must go back.
Maria Oh, Mother, you can't ask me to do that. Please let me stay, I beg of you.
Maria, these walls were not built to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live.
You left without saying goodbye, even to the children.
Maria It was wrong of me, forgive me.
Why did you?
Maria Please don't ask me. Anyway, the reason no longer exists.
Maria May I wish you every happiness, Baroness? And you too, Captain. The children tell me you're to be married.
Thank you, my dear.
You are back to, uh, stay?
Maria Only until arrangements can be made for another governess.
Maria [singing]
Perhaps I had a wicked childhood, perhaps I had a miserable youth.
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past, there must have been a moment of truth.
For here you are standing there loving me, whether or not you should.
So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.
Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could.
So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.
Maria [singing]
So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.
Captain & Maria
'[singing] Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could
Maria [singing]
So somewhere in my youth...
Maria [singing]
I must have done something,
Captain & Maria
[singing]
something good.
[regarding the Nazis]
He's got to at least pretend to work with these people. You must convince him.
Maria I can't ask him to be less than he is.
What happens when a person stops loving you?
Maria You cry a little and then you wait for the sun to come out. It always does.
Maria Dear Father, now I know why You sent me here. To help these children prepare for a new mother. And I pray this will become a happy family in Thy sight. God bless the captain. God bless Liesl and Friedrich. God bless Louisa, Brigitta, Marta and little Gretl. And I forgot the other boy. What's his name? Well, God bless what's-his-name. God bless the Reverend Mother and Sister Margaretta and everybody at the abbey. And now, dear God, about Liesl. Help her know that I'm her friend and help her tell me what she's been up to...
Maria Shh, help me to be understanding so that I may guide her footsteps. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen.
I was out walking and somebody locked the doors early. I didn't want to wake everybody, so when I saw your window open. You're not going to tell Father, are you?
Maria How in the world did you climb up here?
It's how we always got in to play tricks on the governess. Louisa can make it with a whole jar of spiders in her hand.
Maria Spiders? Liesl, were you out walking all by yourself? If we wash that dress tonight, nobody would notice it tomorrow. You could put this on. Take your dress and put it to soak in the bathtub. Come back here and sit on the bed, and we'll have a talk.
I told you today I didn't need a governess. Well, maybe I do.
Now, Fraulein, I want a truthful answer from you.
Maria Yes, Captain?
Is it possible, [pauses, then smiles briefly] or could I have just imagined...Have my children, by any chance, been climbing trees today?
Maria Yes, Captain.
I see. And where, may I ask, did they get these, uhm, these...
Maria Playclothes.
Oh, is that what you call them?
Maria I made them, from the drapes that used to hang in my bedroom.
Maria They still had plenty of wear left. The children have been everywhere in them.
[now incredulous]
Do you mean to tell me that my children have been roaming about Salzburg dressed up in nothing but some old drapes?!
Maria Mm-hmm, and having a marvelous time.
They have uniforms.
Maria Straitjackets, if you'll forgive me.
Maria Children can't do all the things they're supposed to if they have to worry about spoiling their precious clothes.
They haven't complained yet.
Maria Well, they wouldn't dare! They love you too much. They fear you too much!
I don't wish you to discuss my children in this manner.
Maria Well, you've got to hear from someone! You're never home long enough to know them.
I said I don't want to hear anymore from you about my children!
Maria I know you don't, but you've got to! Now, take Liesl.
Maria She's not a child anymore, and one of these days, you're going to wake up and find that she's a woman. You won't even know her. And Friedrich, he's a boy, but he wants to be a man and there's no one to show him how.
Maria Brigitta could tell you about him if you let her get close to you. She notices everything.
Fraulein...
Maria And Kurt pretends he's tough not to show how hurt he is when you brush him aside...
That will do!
Maria ...the way you do all of them. Louisa I don't even know about yet...
I said that will do!
Maria But somebody has to find out about her, and the little ones just want to be loved. Oh, please, Captain, love them! Love them all!
I don't care to hear anything further from you about my children.
Maria I'm not finished yet, Captain!
Oh, yes, you are, Captain! [pauses as Maria stares at him, then corrects himself] Fraulein. You will pack your things this minute, and return to the abbey.
Maria [following his gaze]
It's singing.
Yes, I realize it's singing, but who is singing?
Maria [sighs, looking regretful]
The children.
Maria I taught them something to sing for the Baroness.
...
Fraulein. I behaved badly. I apologize.
Maria Well, I'm-I'm far too outspoken. It's one of my worst faults.
You were right. I don't know my children.
Maria There's still time, Captain. They want so much to be close to you.
You've brought music back into the house. I'd forgotten. Fraulein, I want you to stay. I ask you to stay.
Maria If I could be of any help.
You have already. More than you know.
Maria That sounds so nice.
I like calling you "Mother."
Maria I like hearing it.
You love Father very much. I can tell you do.
Maria Very much.
Mother, what do you do when you think you love someone? I mean, when you stop loving someone or he stops loving you?
Maria Well, you cry a little. Then you wait for the sun to come out. It always does.
There are so many things I think I should know but I don't. I really don't.
Maria How can you?
Sometimes I feel the world is ending.
Maria Then you feel it's just beginning?
Maria It was that way with me. And for you it will be just as wonderful.
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