- Judith Bliss: Anyone would think I was 80 the way you go on. It was a great mistake not sending you to boarding schools, and you coming back, and me being your elder sister.
- Simon Bliss: Wouldn't have been any use darling; everyone knows we're your son and daughter.
- Judith Bliss: Only because I was stupid enough to dandle you about in front of cameras when you were little. I knew I should regret it.
- Simon Bliss: I don't see any point in trying to be younger than you are.
- Judith Bliss: At your age, dear, it would be indecent if you did.
- Judith Bliss: Myra Arundel is straining "freedom" to its utmost limits.
- Simon Bliss: Don't you like her?
- Judith Bliss: No, dear, I detest her. She's far too old for you; and she goes about using sex as a sort of "shrimping net".
- Judith Bliss: Thank you for a brilliant first night. All those ardent playgoers willing one to succeed. The critics all leaning forward with glowing faces, receptive and exhausted.
- Judith Bliss: [entering from the garden] You look awfully dirty Simon, what have you been doing?
- Simon Bliss: Not washing very much.
- Judith Bliss: Oh you should darling, really; its so bad for your skin to leave things about on it.
- Sorel Bliss: I wish you'd give up this sort of thing
- Judith Bliss: What exactly do you mean by "this sort of thing", Sorel
- Sorel Bliss: You know perfectly well what I mean.
- Judith Bliss: Are you attempting to criticise me?
- Sorel Bliss: I should have thought that you were above encouraging silly, callow young men who are infatuated by your name.
- Judith Bliss: That may be true, but I shall allow nobody but myself to say it.
- Judith Bliss: I do not "flaunt about", I never have. I've been morally an extremely nice woman all my life... more or less. And if dabbling gives me pleasure, I don't see why I shouldn't dabble.
- Judith Bliss: We must all be very, very kind to everybody.
- Simon Bliss: Now then, Mother, none of that.
- Judith Bliss: I don't know what you mean, Simon.
- Simon Bliss: You were being beautiful and sad.
- Judith Bliss: But I am beautiful and sad.
- Simon Bliss: You're not particularly beautiful, darling, and you never were.
- Judith Bliss: Never mind; I made thousands think I was.
- Simon Bliss: As for being sad...
- Judith Bliss: [annoyed] Now, Simon, I will not be dictated to like this! If I say I am sad, I am sad. You don't understand, because you are precocious and tiresome.
- Judith Bliss: You know, you mustn't mind if Simon and Sorel insult you a little; they've been very bad-tempered lately.
- Sandy Tyrell: It's awfully funny you having a grown-up son and daughter at all. I can hardly believe it.
- Judith Bliss: [quickly] I was married very young.
- Myra Arundel: Its heavenly here after London; the heat was terrible when I left. You look awfully well, Judith; rusticating obviously agrees with you.
- Judith Bliss: I'm glad you think so; personally I feel a nervous breakdown is imminent.
- Myra Arundel: My dear how ghastly; what's the matter?
- Judith Bliss: Oh, nothing's the matter yet, Myra; but I have presentiments.
- Simon Bliss: You look enchanting!
- Myra Arundel: Thank you, Simon.
- Simon Bliss: Are you pleased to see me?
- Myra Arundel: Of course; that's why I came
- [rolls eyes; she has other plans]
- Myra Arundel: .
- Simon Bliss: Darling...
- Myra Arundel: Shhh... don't... shout.
- Simon Bliss: I feel most colossally temperamental. I should like to kiss you and kiss you and kiss you and break everything in the house and jump into the river.
- Myra Arundel: Dear Simon.
- Simon Bliss: You're everything I want you to be - absolutely everything. Marvelous clothes, marvelous looks, marvelous brain; oh, God, its terrible.
- Simon Bliss: Darling, I adore you.
- Myra Arundel: That's right.
- Simon Bliss: But you're callous, that's what it is, callous. You don't care a damn. You don't love me a bit, do you?
- Myra Arundel: "Love's" a very big word, Simon
- Myra Arundel: [suddenly friendly] Generous boy; come and kiss me.
- Simon Bliss: [pouting] You're only playing up to me now; you don't really want to a bit.
- Myra Arundel: [protesting] I'm aching for it!
- Simon Bliss: [lunges in for a kiss] I love you.
- Myra Arundel: This weekend's going to be strenuous.
- Simon Bliss: Hell upon earth; fifteen million people in the house. We'll get up at 7 and rush away down the river.
- Myra Arundel: [considering] No we won't.
- Simon Bliss: Don't let either of us agree to anything we say. We'll both be difficult; I love being difficult.
- Myra Arundel: You certainly do.
- Simon Bliss: [holding her arm close] You smell heavenly; what is it?
- Myra Arundel: Borgia of Rosine.
- Simon Bliss: How appropriate
- [kisses up and down her arm]
- Myra Arundel: You're too demonstrative today, Simon.
- Judith Bliss: I'm growing old now; men don't grow old like women. As you'll find to your cost, Myra, in a year or two.
- Judith Bliss: [being dramatic] You're trying to spare my feelings, I know.
- Myra Arundel: Well I'm not going to spare your feelings, or anyone else's. You're the most infuriating set of hypocrites I've ever seen. This house is a complete featherbed of false emotions. You're posing, self-centered egotists, and I'm sick to death of you.
- Simon Bliss: Myra!
- Myra Arundel: Don't speak to me. I've been working up to this, only every time I open my mouth, I've been mowed down by theatrical effect. You haven't got one sincere or genuine feeling among the lot of you. You're artificial to the point of lunacy. Its a great pity you ever left the stage, Judith; its your rightful home. You can rant and roar there as much as ever you like.
- Judith Bliss: [really stung] Rant and roar? May God forgive you!