Our Little Girl (1935)

Rosemary Ames: Elsa Middleton

Photos 

Quotes 

• Elsa Middleton : Mother's going away for a little while. And, when she comes back, she won't be married to Daddy anymore.

  Molly Middleton : Who will you be married to, Mommy?

• Molly Middleton : We can't go up to Heaven's Gate without a cake, can we, Mommy?

  Elsa Middleton : No, darling, we certainly can't.

  Amy : I wish you'd let me help you, Mrs. Middleton.

  Molly Middleton : This is work that only Mommy and I can do.

  Elsa Middleton : This is a very special day. It only happens twice a year.

  Amy : Twice a year? What makes this day different from any other day?

  Elsa Middleton : This is the day that Molly and I call May Saturday. The other one comes in September.

  Molly Middleton : We call that September Saturday.

• Elsa Middleton : Young lady, who do you work for?

  Molly Middleton : For you.

  Elsa Middleton : And who does Mommy work for?

  Molly Middleton : For Daddy.

  Elsa Middleton : And who does Daddy work for?

  Molly Middleton : For the butcher and grocer and the tax-collector and the telephone company.

• Dr. Donald Middleton : Hello, darling. How's the most beautiful woman in the world?

  Elsa Middleton : Just waiting breathlessly for the world's handsomest man to come home.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : Well, that's what I called you about. I won't be able to get home at all today. I wanted to call and let you know in time. You see, I'm right in the middle of an important experiment. I don't think I'll even be able to make it in time for dinner.

  Elsa Middleton : But darling, this is May Saturday.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : Uh-oh. May Saturday. Well, couldn't we possibly put it off till next week?

  Elsa Middleton : No, dear, we couldn't put it off. Oh, I know that sounds like a very selfish wife, but twice a year I reserve the right to be selfish. Twice a year I insist on coming between you and your work.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : But darling, I'm doing all this for you and Molly.

  Elsa Middleton : But May Saturday is for Molly, too.

• Molly Middleton : You were almost late, Daddy.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : Almost never won first prize. Say, where do you want us to sit?

  Molly Middleton : Oh, as if you didn't know.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : No, honestly, I've forgotten.

  Molly Middleton : You've forgotten where we sit when we picnic at Heaven's Gate? Oh, Daddy! Have you forgotten, too, Mommy? Do I have to tell you?

  Elsa Middleton : Afraid so.

  Molly Middleton : Right over there, where we always sit every May and September.

• Elsa Middleton : I was just thinking of our early struggle.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : It wasn't any picnic for you, was it?

  Elsa Middleton : It was grand, though. When our living room was your office, and I had to chase down prescriptions and hand you the instruments. Emergency calls at all hours. Me having to hold the patients' hands.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : Molly changed all that, didn't she? I just had to hire a regular nurse.

  Elsa Middleton : Oh, I know Miss Boynton's been wonderful, but now that Molly's no longer a baby, don't you think that...

  Dr. Donald Middleton : That I could get along without Boynton? Why, Elsa, I don't know what I'd do.

  Elsa Middleton : Oh, Don, I do wish that...

  Dr. Donald Middleton : That what?

  Elsa Middleton : Forget it.

• Rolfe Brent : Look here, why don't the two of you come and go riding with me sometime?

  Dr. Donald Middleton : Thanks, Brent. Mrs. Middleton might. The only thing I ride is that old bus of mine. It bounces just as much, but it doesn't bite.

  Rolfe Brent : How about you, Mrs. Middleton?

  Elsa Middleton : Oh, I haven't ridden in years. I don't know if I could.

  Rolfe Brent : Oh, of course you could. You used to be great.

  Molly Middleton : Of course you could, Mommy. You just get on them and go.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : But don't you let her take any of those jumps until she's all set.

  Rolfe Brent : You can trust me, Doctor. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, Mrs. Middleton, around ten o'clock?

  Dr. Donald Middleton : She'll get a big kick out of it.

  Molly Middleton : She doesn't want to get kicked, Daddy.

• Dr. Donald Middleton : Finishing your dinner off the mantelpiece?

  Elsa Middleton : I'm not as ancient and decrepit as you thought, is that what you mean?

  Dr. Donald Middleton : How'd your old riding outfit work this morning?

  Elsa Middleton : I can just squeeze into it, thank you kindly. You know, Don, I wish you'd go riding with me, or... or something.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : Me riding would be something.

• Elsa Middleton : Oh, Don, must you go to New York?

  Dr. Donald Middleton : Darling, this is the chance of a lifetime.

  Elsa Middleton : I know, and I don't want to be a bad sport, but must you go at this particular time?

  Dr. Donald Middleton : What's the matter, Elsa?

  Elsa Middleton : I suppose I'm being foolish, but I get so bored and lonely, just waiting for an occasional glimpse of you.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : You poor dear. It isn't much fun for you, is it?

  Elsa Middleton : Darling, take me with you.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : But that wouldn't be any fun for you. I go from hospital to hospital day and night.

  Elsa Middleton : I wouldn't mind. I'd wait for you.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : But you just said...

  Elsa Middleton : That's right. I did, didn't I?

• Elsa Middleton : Poor Don, cooped up in that laboratory with poisonous gases and diphtheria germs.

  Rolfe Brent : I thought it was only for a few days?

  Elsa Middleton : Don forgets time when he's working.

• Dr. Donald Middleton : I didn't particularly care for that farewell speech you just made to Brent!

  Elsa Middleton : Don, don't say anything you're going to be sorry for.

• Molly Middleton : I was naughty today, Mommy, worser than I've ever been before.

  Elsa Middleton : Why, what on earth have you done?

  Molly Middleton : This morning, I told Mr. Brent we didn't like him.

  Elsa Middleton : That wasn't very kind.

  Molly Middleton : And I told him we wished he'd go away and never come back.

  Elsa Middleton : But that isn't true, Molly.

• Rolfe Brent : Molly, I want to ask you something.

  Molly Middleton : Yes, Mr. Brent?

  Rolfe Brent : Would you like to call me Uncle Rolfe?

  Molly Middleton : No, thank you.

  Rolfe Brent : Well, I don't much care for that uncle business, either. How about just calling me Rolfe, then, without the uncle?

  Molly Middleton : Can't we just talk without me calling you anything, sir?

  Rolfe Brent : I'm afraid not, Molly. You see, you're coming to live in my house pretty soon.

  Molly Middleton : You can't live in anybody's house but your own.

  Rolfe Brent : Oh, but it will be your own.

  Molly Middleton : He's teasing.

  Elsa Middleton : No, Molly, he's not teasing.

• Elsa Middleton : Molly, you're getting too big for Heaven's Gate.

  Molly Middleton : But you and Daddy didn't get too big.

• Elsa Middleton : I had no logical reason for coming back. I guess it's just what Don would call... a hunch.

  Rolfe Brent : But darling, I thought we'd agreed on everything.

  Elsa Middleton : Maybe I'm being foolish, but I had to be sure.

  Rolfe Brent : You've got to trust my judgement. I mean, the situation would be easier and simpler if it weren't for Molly.

  Elsa Middleton : Don't say that!

  Rolfe Brent : But we've got our own lives to live. If it weren't for Molly, I know we could be happy together.

• Elsa Middleton : I do wish we could do things like other people without always feeling guilty.

• Sarah Boynton : It's Mrs. Stevens, Doctor, on an emergency.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : Did you bring the kit?

  Sarah Boynton : Yes, I have it outside.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : You'll have to excuse me.

  Elsa Middleton : Let me come, too, Don. I can at least keep the other Stevenses out of the room.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : You stay here and finish your dinner.

  Elsa Middleton : But you may be late.

  Dr. Donald Middleton : If I am, I'm sure Rolfe will be kind enough to escort you home.

  Rolfe Brent : You mean lucky enough.

• Rolfe Brent : I know I'm a fool. I know I may be spoiling everything. But I just can't keep up the pretense. I want so much to...

  Elsa Middleton : Go ahead. I'm not afraid.

  Rolfe Brent : Elsa, you must know that...

  Elsa Middleton : I know. I'm very fond of you, too, Rolfe.