The Moon Is Blue (1953)

Maggie McNamara: Patty O'Neill

Photos 

Quotes 

• Donald Gresham : Believe it or not, I am a full-fledged architect. Build you anything from a cathedral to a bomb shelter.

  Patty O'Neill : How much would a cathedral cost these days? A small one.

• Donald Gresham : Why are you so preoccupied with sex?

  Patty O'Neill : Who, me?

  Donald Gresham : Yes, you.

  Patty O'Neill : You really think I am?

  Donald Gresham : Well, you are always asking if people plan seduction or they're bored with virgins or they have a mistress... Now, if that isn't being preoccupied with sex, I'd like to know what is.

  Patty O'Neill : You may be right.

  [pauses momentarily] 

  Patty O'Neill : But don't you think it's better for a girl to be preoccupied with sex than occupied?

• David Slater : [about his ex-wife]  She divorced me. Extreme cruelty - I hit her with a muffin dish.

  Patty O'Neill : You didn't!

  David Slater : *Stainless steel* muffin dish. Still warm from popovers. Right across the behind. Raised a welt that lasted for *weeks* according to her lawyer. I was never privileged to see it.

• Patty O'Neill : If Cynthia came down now and cried over you a little and fussed over you right bit, I bet...

  Donald Gresham : Let's not talk about Cynthia.

  Patty O'Neill : Well, she called me a "professional virgin". That's what I came back to talk about. Not Cynthia, don't worry, only what she said.

  Donald Gresham : It was a rather unfortunate phrase and I was mad...

  Patty O'Neill : May I ask why does Cynthia object to virgins?

  Donald Gresham : Look, nobody in their right mind could seriously object to being called a virgin.

  Patty O'Neill : OK, but it's this "professional" that makes me mad. I'd like to have that explained.

  Donald Gresham : It's not necessary to advertise it. That's really all the phrase means.

  Patty O'Neill : What's wrong with advertising?

  Donald Gresham : [exasperated]  People who advertise are anxious to *sell* something!

• Patty O'Neill : I've cured more hangovers than you could shake a stick at.

  David Slater : Never shake a stick at a hangover.

• David Slater : Would you consider our friend to be a man of... principles?

  Patty O'Neill : I certainly do. He is charming.

  David Slater : Yes, but I am told that I am not entirely without charm, but I have no principles whatsoever.

• Patty O'Neill : Oh, c'mon. You don't want to stay up here alone.

  David Slater : Haven't the faintest intention of being alone. You decide to leave, I should probably call up a dame I know and ask her to come over.

  Patty O'Neill : Don't say "dame", it's vulgar. At least say "girl"

  David Slater : This girl *is* quite vulgar. In the sense that she is earthy and uninhibited. By common definition she is essentially a dame rather than a girl. She's a lot of fun.

  Patty O'Neill : Then why don't you ask *her* to marry you?

  David Slater : Because she'll lose all respect for me if I made such an idiotic suggestion.

• Patty O'Neill : You struck a woman?

  David Slater : Why certainly. In fact I seldom strike anyone *but* a woman. Oh, I'm not the belligerent type. I'm also a coward.

  Donald Gresham : Now don't be too modest. Occasionally you'll strike a small man.

  David Slater : If he's defenseless, yes.

• Patty O'Neill : I'm not being bossy. It's the mother instinct.

• Donald Gresham : [taking her to his apartment for the first time]  Now, you're sure you don't mind coming in?

  Patty O'Neill : Quite sure.

  Donald Gresham : No qualms?

  Patty O'Neill : Not a qualm in the world. And I am not reflecting on your virility either.

  Donald Gresham : Let's leave my virility out of this!

• Patty O'Neill : I am so glad you don't mind.

  Donald Gresham : Mind what?

  Patty O'Neill : Oh, men are usually so bored with virgins. I am so glad you are not.

• Donald Gresham : [on the observation deck at the top of the Empire State building]  Oh? What are you excited about?

  Patty O'Neill : Coming up here. I wanted to for years.

  Donald Gresham : Well then, why didn't you?

  Patty O'Neill : Frankly, because I couldn't afford it. Can get a lovely pair of nylons for dollar twenty.

• Donald Gresham : [In the taxi, on the way to his apartment]  You won't mind coming up, will you?

  Patty O'Neill : I am not so sure. Will you try to seduce me?

  Donald Gresham : I, I don't know. Probably. why?

  Patty O'Neill : Why? A girl wants to know.

  Donald Gresham : A girl is supposed to be intuitive about those things. You don't go around bluntly asking questions like that.

  Patty O'Neill : I do. I always do.

  Donald Gresham : And what happens if they say yes, they are going to try to seduce you.

  Patty O'Neill : I generally believe them. And then I am out one dinner.

  Donald Gresham : And if they say their intentions are honorable?

  Patty O'Neill : I generally believe that. But you get fooled some times. I hate men like that. I mean, after all, they are lots of girls who don't mind being seduced. Why pick on those who do?

  Donald Gresham : OK, I won't make a single pass at you. Do you believe me?

  Patty O'Neill : Yes. Yes, I do. You're nice. I like you.

  Donald Gresham : I could be lying.

  Patty O'Neill : That's true. Are you?

  Donald Gresham : I don't know. I've never run up against anybody like you before.

  Patty O'Neill : How nice!

  Donald Gresham : But I won't take an oath that I am not going to kiss you.

  Patty O'Neill : Oh, that's alright. Kissing's fine. I have no objection to that.

• Patty O'Neill : Oh, I know! Let's not go out. Let's fix dinner up here. I am simply a sensational cook.

  Donald Gresham : Well, unfortunately I haven't any sensational food.

  Patty O'Neill : Oh, you must have something.

  [opens the icebox] 

  Patty O'Neill : I thought you surely must have some leftovers. You know, what I can do with leftovers is nobody's business! Do you like kadguree?

  Donald Gresham : I beg your pardon?

  Patty O'Neill : Kadguree. It's made with finnan haddie. Do you have any finnan haddie?

  Donald Gresham : I wouldn't be found dead with finnan haddie.

  Patty O'Neill : Aw, that's an awful thing to say. You haven't even tasted it. It's delicious.

• Patty O'Neill : I took my shoes off because my feet hurt.

  David Slater : Oh, you should never say your feet hurt.

  Patty O'Neill : Why not? They do.

  David Slater : "My foot, singular, hurts" is an intriguing statement. "My feet, plural, hurt" is a rather sordid admission.

• Patty O'Neill : He has reasons for suspicion.

  David Slater : Take my advice and let them lurk.

  Patty O'Neill : What?

  David Slater : Suspicion, my child, suspicion. The lurking doubt. Is she or isn't she? Does she or doesn't she? Will she or won't she? Suspicion, the most powerful aphrodisiac in the world.

• Patty O'Neill : I just came back to ask you exactly what Cynthia meant when she called me a "professional virgin".

• Patty O'Neill : Don't you ever eat meals up here?

  Donald Gresham : Nope.

  Patty O'Neill : No wonder you are so unhappy and maladjusted.

  Donald Gresham : I am not a bit unhappy and my adjustment is just dandy!

  Patty O'Neill : Well, I think it's awful to let this darling kitchen go to waste. This lovely icebox and stove. And that garbage disposal with nobody to use it. I want to cry, honestly.

• David Slater : Don't you find I have a certain weird charm?

  Patty O'Neill : Yes, that's your whole trouble. You have entirely too much charm.

  Donald Gresham : And it certainly *is* weird.

• Patty O'Neill : Do you mind if I take my shoes off?

  Donald Gresham : Take off anything you like.

• Donald Gresham : [in his apartment, after they've first met]  You're the strangest girl I've ever known.

  Patty O'Neill : You don't know me. You picked me up.

  Donald Gresham : Well, you don't have to rub it in.

• Patty O'Neill : [they're chatting, in Don's apartment]  Would you like me to turn on the television?

  David Slater : Is it in color?

  Patty O'Neill : Oh, you're crazy. It won't be in color for years.

  David Slater : Let's wait 'til then.

• Patty O'Neill : Gosh, it's raining cats and dogs. What kind of a car do you drive?

  David Slater : A Lincoln. Why?

  Patty O'Neill : Have you seen the new Cadillac?

  David Slater : Yes.

  Patty O'Neill : They have a fascinating little gadget. Whenever it starts to rain, you press a little button, and it squirts water on the windshield, so that the wiper won't get it all smeared. I think of it the moment it starts to rain.

  David Slater : You drive a Cadillac?

  Patty O'Neill : Oh, heavens no, don't be silly. But the boy Vicky goes with has one, and he lets me work it. Not drive it - work the gadget.

• David Slater : [Looking on, as Patty is tidying up the kitchen in Don's apartment]  Oh, don't worry about all that. Let the maid do it.

  Patty O'Neill : No, I like to tidy up. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

  David Slater : Ugh. That sort of thing does not appeal to me.

  Patty O'Neill : What *does* appeal to you?

  David Slater : Steaks, liquor and sex. In that order.