The Chalk Garden (1964)

John Mills: Maitland

Photos 

Quotes 

• Maitland : You're not the usual thing in governesses, are you?

  Miss Madrigal : Are you the usual thing in servants?

• [first lines] 

  Anna : Excuse me. Would Mrs. St. Maugham live here?

  Maitland : She would.

  Anna : [pointing to the newspaper in her hand]  I'm sorry, I came in answer to the advertisement.

  Maitland : There's no need to be sorry... at least not yet. Come in please.

  Anna : [entering the house]  Ooh, goodness me, it's very grand, isn't it.

  Maitland : Built like a fort. It has to be.

  Anna : [grabbing Maitland's arm]  Pardon me, but are there many others?

  Maitland : You're number six.

  Anna : [shocked]  So many?

  Maitland : Numbers one to five have already left... or rather fled.

  Anna : [nervously]  Ooh dear, but Mistress must be very hard to please.

  Maitland : True. But in fairness, the other ladies didn't really want the job.

  Anna : Why not?

  Maitland : Because, uh, let us say that this is a nervous age.

  Anna : [worriedly]  Oh.

• Maitland : What will you do now?

  Miss Madrigal : Continue to explore the astonishment of living.

• Mrs. St. Maugham : Hurry, Maitland, is the curse of civilization.

  Maitland : The fact that I hurry, Madam, gives certain people the leisure to make such observations.

• Maitland : [bell rings, to Miss Madrigal]  The lions are calling for a Christian.

• Miss Madrigal : The child's outlandish.

  Maitland : This is an outlandish household. You may just find it to your liking.

  Miss Madrigal : Because I'm outlandish?

  Maitland : Unusual. Emphasize it. Mrs. St. Maugham cherishes the unusual.

• Maitland : Simple kindness is so rare in this house that it's instantly mistaken for passion.

• Maitland : Before you go, let me give you a book. Any book. For Laurel's benefit... If she's still about. Now, what do you fancy? Arnold Bennett, Conan Doyle, Hemingway, uh, H.G. Wells?

• Maitland : When a man kills, it's the one act he does totally alone. The world isn't with him. Therefore, his convictions must be tremendous. I admire people with convictions.

  Miss Madrigal : People don't kill reasonably. They kill unreasonably, passionately. Thank you for the wine.

• Miss Madrigal : How to tell the truths from the lies?

  Maitland : Much of what Laurel says is dramatized truth. The lies are very carefully salted in.

• Laurel : She writes no letters. She receives none. She's never even had a phone call. Maybe she's out of something? Something like an alcoholic sanatorium - or a madhouse. Do you think Grandloo would want a madwoman watching over me?

  Maitland : It would only be simple justice, considering all the governesses you've driven mad.

• Miss Madrigal : Why exciting? Have I done anything or said anything?

  Maitland : It's what you haven't done and haven't said.

• Maitland : To me the unsolved mysteries are far the most exciting.