Mildred Pierce (1945)

Zachary Scott: Monte Beragon

Photos 

Quotes 

• Monte Beragon : Oh, I wish I could get that interested in work.

  Ida Corwin : You were probably frightened by a callus at an early age!

• Mildred Pierce : That Ted Forrester's nice-looking, isn't he? Veda likes him.

  Monte Beragon : Who wouldn't? He has a million dollars.

• Monte Beragon : Drink?

  Mildred Pierce : You drink too much.

  Monte Beragon : I know, I do too much of everything. I'm spoiled.

  Mildred Pierce : You've too many sisters... They all seem to be my size too.

  Monte Beragon : I know, I like them your size.

  Monte Beragon : [raises a glass to toast]  To brotherly love.

• Veda Pierce : That's what I like about you, Ida. You're so delightfully provincial.

  Ida Corwin : [sarcastically]  And I like you, too.

  Ida Corwin : [to Monte]  Don't look now, Junior, but you're standing under a brick wall.

  Monte Beragon : I don't get it.

  Ida Corwin : You will... when it falls on you.

• Monte Beragon : In the Beragon family, there is an old Spanish proverb: one man's poison is another man's meat.

• Monte Beragon : You know, Mildred, in the spring, a young man's fancy lightly turns to what he's been thinking about all winter.

  Mildred Pierce : It's a good thing California winters are so short.

• Monte Beragon : [as Mildred caught Monte and Veda in a romantic embrace]  We weren't expecting you Mildred, obviously.

  Veda Pierce : It's just as well you know. I'm glad you know.

  Mildred Beragon : How long has this been going on?

• Mildred Pierce : And just what do you do, Mr Beragon?

  Monte Beragon : I loaf, in a decorative and highly charming manner.

  Mildred Pierce : Is that all?

  Monte Beragon : With me, loafing is a science.

• Mildred Pierce : You look down on me because I work for a living, don't you? You always have. Alright, I work. I cook food and sell it and make a profit on it. Which I might point out you're not too proud to share with me

  Monte Beragon : Yes, I take money from you, Mildred. But not enough to make me like kitchens or cooks. They smell of grease.

  Mildred Pierce : I don't notice you shrinking from a $50 bill because it happens to smell of grease.

• Monte Beragon : I always knew that someday we'd come to this particular moment in the scheme of things. You want Veda and your business and a nice quiet life. And the price of all that is me. You can go back to making your pies now, Mildred. We're through.

• Mildred Pierce : Look, Monte. I've worked long and hard trying to give Veda the things I never had. I've done without a lot of things, including happiness sometimes because I wanted her to have everything. Now I'm losing her. She's drifting away from me. She hardly speaks to me anymore except to ask for money or poke fun at me in French at me because I work for a living.

  Monte Beragon : All kids are thoughtless at her age.

  Mildred Pierce : Perhaps but I still don't like it. I blame it on the way she's been living. I blame it on you.

  Monte Beragon : I dont' think you understand Veda very well. She's not like you. You'll never make a waitress out of her.

• Monte Beragon : You take my breath away.

  Mildred Pierce : Do I? I like you Monty. You make me feel... oh, I don't know. Warm.

  Monte Beragon : Wanted? Beautiful?

  Mildred Pierce : Yes.

  Monte Beragon : When I'm close to you like this, there's a sound in the air like the beating of wings. You know what it is?

  Mildred Pierce : No, what?

  Monte Beragon : My heart... beating like a schoolboy's.

  Mildred Pierce : Is it? I thought it was mine.

• [first lines] 

  Monte Beragon : [falling onto the floor uttering his dying words having just been shot]  Mildred...

• Ida Corwin : Don't look now, Junior. But you are standing under a brick wall.

  Monte Beragon : I don't get it.

  Ida Corwin : You will when it falls on you.

• Mildred Pierce : You can do me a great kindness.

  Monte Beragon : If I can.

  Mildred Pierce : Ask me you marry you.

  Monte Beragon : Why?

  Mildred Pierce : Well, I must say your attitude isn't exactly enthusiastic.

  Monte Beragon : You went to considerable trouble to get rid of me once so naturally I'm a little startled by your proposal of marriage.

  [coyly] 

  Monte Beragon : This is so sudden, Mildred.

  Mildred Pierce : I have my own personal reason for wanting to marry you.

  Monte Beragon : The reason name Veda, I think.

  Mildred Pierce : Why should it be?

  Monte Beragon : Because you're reason for doing anything is usually Veda.

  Mildred Pierce : Well, whether it is or isn't, what's your answer?

  Monte Beragon : I can't afford you, Mildred. You have money and I haven't. All I have is pride and a name and I can't sell either.