The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

Henry Fonda: Peter Ames

Photos 

Quotes 

• Melsa Manton : [storms into the room and slaps the first man she sees]  Are you Peter Ames?

  Peter's Secretary : No...

  Peter Ames : But I am...

  Melsa Manton : [Slaps Peter] 

  Peter Ames : [Slaps Melsa]  To complete the circle.

• [last lines] 

  Peter Ames : We'll go to South America, for six months - maybe we'll never come back!

  Melsa Manton : Can you afford it?

  Peter Ames : No, but you can.

  Melsa Manton : Isn't there a drop of red blood in your veins? I want to live on *your* income!

  Peter Ames : That's foolish, who's going to live on yours?

  [they kiss passionately] 

  Lieutenant Brent : Sullivan, my bicarb tablets.

  Sullivan : Will you quit crawling up on me.

• Peter Ames : Listen, before I knew you, I disliked you intensely. When I met you, I disliked you intensely. Even now, I dislike you intensely... that is, the sensible sane portion of me... but there's an insane side of me that gets a little violent every time I think of you.

  Melsa Manton : Getting out of a million dollar lawsuit wouldn't have anything to do with your change in affection, would it?

  Peter Ames : You're a nasty creature, aren't you, but in time I'll beat it out of you.

• Peter Ames : [to Melsa]  You're up to your beautiful hips in murder!

• Melsa Manton : [has just discovered Fonda is faking being near death, to pump her for information]  Are you still in pain, sweet?

  Peter Ames : [from hospital bed, faintly]  Oh its nothing, nothing... only when I move... but its nothing...

  Melsa Manton : [hovering over hospital bed]  Peter, perhaps I did wrong in not telling Inspector Brent everything.

  Peter Ames : You mean you held something back?

  Melsa Manton : Yes Peter.

  Peter Ames : [this is what he's hoping to hear]  Oh sweet, you're so clever.

  Melsa Manton : Remember when I went into Ronnie Beldon's apartment?

  Peter Ames : Yes dear.

  Melsa Manton : When I went into the bathroom, I found something.

  Peter Ames : In the bathroom?

  Melsa Manton : Yes, floating around in a foot of water in the bathtub.

  Peter Ames : Louder, dear, I can hardly hear you.

  Melsa Manton : [ominously]  I'll come closer.

  Peter Ames : Tell me dear, what was it?

  Melsa Manton : [yelling]  The Normandie, you black-hearted faker, in full sail!

  [stabs him in the leg with a fork] 

• Peter Ames : All right, Hilda, can you carry a gun?

  Hilda : No, suh! I'se a pacifist.

• Edward Norris : Don't speak to anyone. I don't want to kill an innocent bystander.

  Peter Ames : Ya know that's what I like about crazy men; that fine sense of distinction.

  Edward Norris : You think I'm insane?

  Melsa Manton : [Stands in front of Peter, as to protect him]  Oh, he's says that to everybody.

• Peter Ames : [Referring to Melsa]  Isn't she wonderful? That's the girl I'm going to marry.

  Lieutenant Brent : I'll take Snow White!

• Melsa Manton : [to her friends]  Get him, girls!

  Peter Ames : [Nervously, then desparately as the girls engulf and subdue him]  Hey, wait a minute, girls...

  [clicks the phone] 

  Peter Ames : Tahe it easy, girls... look... Hello... Help, I tho... wha... ahh!...

• Melsa Manton : May I have a cigarette?

  [He places one in her mouth, lights it] 

  Melsa Manton : I've had dozens of cigarette lighters but they never worked.

  Peter Ames : This just one just takes cheap gasoline.

  Melsa Manton : Maybe that's why.

• Peter Ames : [Melsa has been knocked unconscious and Peter is concerned]  Get some water... Melsa. Oh, Melsa, darling, please, please don't be dead.

  Helen Frayne : Here it is.

  [Helen hands Peter a glass of water, Peter throws water in Melsa's face. She awakens, spluttering] 

  Peter Ames : It's all right. It's distilled water.