- Melinda Greyton: Joyce, look. I've never seen anyone like him. Never.
- Joyce: Do you think he's attractive?
- Melinda Greyton: Ferociously!
- Col. Hammerbrook: I tell you these men are nothing but blasted traitors and - hanging's too good for them!
- Col. Hammerbrook: In my not particularly humble opinion, it doesn't matter why or for whom they do it. Doesn't matter in the least. A traitor's a traitor.
- Lord Pennistone: I thought young what'cha-call-him, young Curragh was going to take you out?
- Melinda Greyton: Well, I...
- Lord Pennistone: He's a nice fella. Bit conservative I suppose but I can't help liking him. Why isn't he here?
- Melinda Greyton: [pause] I don't know.
- Lord Pennistone: Well don't you worry. He'll be along. Reliable sort of chap. I hope nothing's happened to him.
- Joyce: Father!
- Lord Pennistone: Well, accidents will happen. Dark night. Step in front of a car. Might not find the fella for an hour or so.
- Alek: Perhaps you may have forgotten that we are still in a war - a cold war.
- Maj. Michael Curragh: I had not forgotten.
- Alek: Good. Because then I don't have to remind you that wars must be fought with ruthlessness, self-sacrifice.
- Maj. Michael Curragh: I've always been quite ready to make sacrifices.
- Alek: But you must know that no personal consideration or domestic inconvenience should stand in the way. As a soldier Major, you know there are always casualties in war.
- Maj. Michael Curragh: Casualties? What are you driving at?
- Radek: Here are the orders from Radek, Major. The Bureau directs that your wife must be done away with.
- Maj. Michael Curragh: Then I withdraw from the party, now, do you hear me? I withdraw from the party.
- Alek: You swore to dedicate your life to the party and to the struggle. One does not resign Major, you know that. You swore to be bound by an iron discipline, to follow orders wherever they led you. One never questions the party, Comrade. One never questions. Never questions.
- Radek: Yes Major, you are the one who is going to liquidate her.
- Melinda Greyton: Joyce. It's thundering. I'm not a bit afraid of the thunder and lightning. Not a bit. But do you mind if I get in your bed?
- Joyce: I don't see why you want to look like your own mother. It would be different if Major Curragh had a mother complex but I don't think he has at all. Or why would he like you?
- Melinda Greyton: If you'd read as much as I have, you'd know that practically every man in the world has a mother complex.
- Joyce: A shame we couldn't provide something gayer for your first party in London.
- Melinda Greyton: Oh, I don't mind. You're with me. Really, it's fun to watch in a - horrible sort of way.
- Capt. Hugh Ladholme: Do you like him, Joyce?
- Joyce: I think it might be difficult to like him. But it would be very easy to fall in love with him.
- Melinda Greyton: Michael, let's go swimming.
- Maj. Michael Curragh: Can't. No suits.
- Melinda Greyton: Well, we could take a sun-bath couldn't we?
- Maj. Michael Curragh: That we could.
- Melinda Greyton: I would like to do something about those vases. They're awful. I'd like to get rid of them.
- Broaders: He'd never miss them. You know what men are. Out of sight, out of mind.
- Aunt Jessica: I see you paint your fingernails. Tell me, I've always wondered. Do young women who paint their fingernails also paint their toes?
- Melinda Greyton: Well I do, although I don't know why. No-one sees them.
- Col. Hammerbrook: To me, there's only one side to this argument. You can argue from now until doomsday and it won't make me alter my opinion. But I don't care. Whichever way you look at it, it's treason. Blasted treason! That's all there is to it.
- Maj. Michael Curragh: The only decent thing a wife can do is to behave like a wife. Don't meddle in things you don't understand.
- Melinda Greyton: Michael is resigning his commission. And going in for politics. He's going to be a Communist.
- Maj. Michael Curragh: That's not very funny.
- Col. Hammerbrook: Ha ha. I think it is. By Jove, Michael. I never knew your wife had such a sense of humor.
- Aunt Jessica: Nicko, you're to finish your porridge.
- Nicko: I don't like it.
- Aunt Jessica: Nobody likes it. They just eat it.
- Melinda Greyton: Well, I've finished mine. Now I think I'll have the kipper.
- Aunt Jessica: Porridge and kipper? A nice, healthy appetite. I'm going to like you very much.