Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938)

Helen Westley: Aunt Miranda Wilkins

Quotes 

• Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Homer Busby, get off that bed!

  Homer Busby : Mirandy! You're talking to me!

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Of course I'm talking to you. Now take me to Rebecca.

  Homer Busby : Oh, Mirandy, I've waited twenty-five years for this moment.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Fiddlesticks.

  Homer Busby : Don't be stubborn any longer. We're wasting the best years of our lives.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Homer Busby, you're revolting.

  Homer Busby : Come on, Mirandy, give in.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : How can I trust you after the way you've acted?

  Homer Busby : I swear I'll never keep you waiting again. Give me one more chance.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Are you sure you've gotten all the wild oats out of your system?

  Gwen Warren : Congratulations, you two.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Oh, there's no time for this fol-de-rol. Where is Rebecca? Take me to her!

• Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Young man, what are you going to pay Rebecca?

  Rebecca Winstead : But Aunt Miranda, I don't want any pay. I love to sing.

  Tony Kent : Then you don't mind, Miss Wilkins?

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Of course I mind. I'm not going to have my niece be a big radio star and not get paid for it.

  Tony Kent : You won't have a thing to worry about, I assure you.

  Gwen Warren : Aunt Miranda, you're an old dear.

  Tony Kent : You're a honey, Miss Wilkins.

  Homer Busby : And how about me?

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Homer Busby, you're an old fool.

  Rebecca Winstead : But you can't wait much longer, Aunt Miranda.

  Homer Busby : She's right, Mirandy. I got my rig outside if you want to take a little ride in the moonlight.

  Gwen Warren : Go on, I'll bring Rebecca home.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Homer Busby, you always were impulsive.

• Harry Kipper : Long time no see, folks. Meet the new missus, and this is my attorney, Jake Singer.

  Melba : Pleased to meet you.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : I thought you weren't coming back here, Harry Kipper.

  Harry Kipper : It's like this, Miranda. I've been doing all right, just getting married and all, and I'm ready to take Rebecca back now.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : You'll do no such thing! You gave the child up once, and you can't take her back now!

  Harry Kipper : Now, Miranda, there's no reason why we can't be friendly about this.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : I'd sooner be friendly with a rattlesnake.

  Gwen Warren : It's obvious that you heard Rebecca on the radio and all you're after is her money.

  Melba : It's Harry's kid, ain't it? We got more right to her dough than you have.

  Rebecca Winstead : Oh, Aunt Miranda, don't let them take me away.

• Gwen Warren : Oh, Mr. Kipper, you can't take Rebecca away. She's been happier here on the farm than she's ever been in her whole life.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Now you get out of my house!

  Melba : Not without the kid, we don't.

  Harry Kipper : Miranda, I don't want to get tough about this, but you're asking for it.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Just try and take her.

  Jake Singer : Now, my dear madam, all this yelling isn't going to get us any place. Don't forget that Mr. Kipper is the child's stepfather and legal guardian. The courts of New York have decreed that he shall have custody of the child.

• Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Here are some cookies for you to eat on the way.

  Rebecca Winstead : Thank you, Aunt Miranda. I'm going to miss your cookies.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : And here's a picture of me so you won't forget what I look like. Of course it isn't a very good likeness. It was taken twenty years ago.

  Rebecca Winstead : I'll never forget you, Aunt Miranda.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Oh, of course you will.

  Rebecca Winstead : Please, Aunt Miranda, I don't want to leave!

• Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Take good care of yourself, Rebecca.

  Rebecca Winstead : I will, Aunt Miranda. I'm very self-reliant.

• Harry Kipper : Now, Miranda, let's not quarrel. I'll only be here a few minutes.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : That's long enough for me.

  Rebecca Winstead : My, this is a fine boarding house.

  Gwen Warren : This is no boarding house, honey.

  Rebecca Winstead : But I thought everyone took in roomers.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : A fine environment you've given her!

  Rebecca Winstead : I want to have my environment fixed.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : I'll wager the child hasn't had a bit of food.

  Rebecca Winstead : Yes, I have. Uncle Harry bought me a candy bar.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : A candy bar? Gwen, take the child into the kitchen and get her something decent to eat.

  Rebecca Winstead : Oh, I can go myself. I'm very self-reliant.

  Gwen Warren : Well, I'm hungry too, so let's go together.

  Rebecca Winstead : My name's Rebecca Winstead. What's yours?

  Gwen Warren : Gwen Warren. We're cousins.

• Harry Kipper : I've had Rebecca on my hands for some time now. It's been quite a burden. Of course, I'm only too glad to take care of the child, even though she really isn't my own. But lately, I've had several financial reverses.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : What you're trying to tell me is you want me to take the child off your hands.

  Harry Kipper : I'd hardly put it that way, Miranda, but that's the general idea.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : You listen to me, Harry Kipper. I'll take Rebecca, but only on one condition. You've got to promise to let me have her for good, so I can give her the right kind of upbringing. I don't want her to come to a bad end like her mother.

  Harry Kipper : Your sister didn't do so bad. You're just against show people.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Show people! If Bess hadn't eloped with that opera singer who died without a cent, she wouldn't have had to marry a no-good like you!

• Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Just a minute, young man. Are you trying to tell me you want to put Rebecca on the radio?

  Tony Kent : Yes, Miss Wilkins. On a very important program. A nationwide hookup...

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Get out of here!

  Tony Kent : But Miss Wilkins, I don't understand...

  Gwen Warren : Aunt Miranda, please just listen to Mr. Kent.

  Rebecca Winstead : I want to go on the radio so bad.

  Tony Kent : This is a very important opportunity for Rebecca. Surely you can't say no.

  Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Oh, can't I? Just listen, Mr. Kent. No! I know what you show people are, a no-good lot! I took Rebecca out of that unwholesome atmosphere, and I'm not going to put her back into it! She's staying on the farm where I can keep an eye on her.

• Aunt Miranda Wilkins : Land's sakes, that's peculiar. If I didn't know Rebecca was upstairs in bed, I'd swear that was her voice on the radio.

  Gwen Warren : Well, it did sound like Rebecca, but of course it couldn't possibly be.