Joan Fontaine: Lina McLaidlaw

Suspicion

Lina McLaidlaw

Lina: I must go now or I'll be late to luncheon. Anyway, if my father saw me come in both late and beautiful, he might have a stroke.

[Lina asks Johnnie how he intends to support them]
Johnnie: Well, if the worst comes to the worst and there's no other way out, I'll have to...
Lina: What?
Johnnie: Borrow some more.

Isobel Sedbusk: Imagine a substance in daily use everywhere. Anyone can lay his hands on it, and within a minute after taking, the victim's beautifully out of the way. Mind you, it's undetectable after death.
Lina: Is whatever it is, painful?
Isobel Sedbusk: Oh, not in the least. In fact I should think it'd be a most pleasant death.

Johnnie: What do you think of me by contrast to your horse?
Lina: If I ever got the bit between your teeth, I'd have no trouble in handling you at all.

Johnnie: You thought I was going to kiss you, didn't you?
Lina: Weren't you?
Johnnie: Of course not. I was merely reaching around you, trying to fix your hair.
Lina: What's wrong with my hair?
Johnnie: Well, I'm glad you asked me that. It would've been extremely discourteous for me to bring the subject up.

[Johnnie and Lina are facing a large portrait of her father]
Johnnie: He doesn't like me.
Lina: I know.
Johnnie: He doesn't trust me from here to there.
Johnnie: [speaking to the portrait] Do you? Well, you're right. I can only bring her unhappiness. Well, warn her. Speak up, man. It's your last chance.
Johnnie: [to Lina] Hear him?
Lina: Very distinctly.
Johnnie: He's not exaggerating a thing, dear. It's all true, every word he isn't saying.
Lina: I love him, father.
Johnnie: Did you see him jump?
Lina: I did.
Johnnie: Well, watch this one.
Johnnie: [speaking to the portrait] Sir, I have the honor of asking for your daughter's hand in marriage. Well, what do you say to that?
Johnnie: [tapping on the portrait which then falls off the wall] My oh my. You heard him that time, didn't you?

Lina: Why are you frank with me, because I'm... different?
Johnnie: No, no, it isn't that. I'm honest because with you I think it's the best way to get results.

Johnnie: Darling, you're not shivering, are you?
Lina: I have a bit of a chill.
Johnnie: Cold in all this sunshine? Well, let me warm you up. My poor little shivering baby. How do you feel now? Better?
Lina: Much.
Johnnie: Good. Perhaps this will help.
[Johnnie takes Lina and kisses her passionately]

Isobel Sedbusk: I never knew you were such a *murder* story fan.
Lina: [in suspecting Johnnie of contemplating murder] Neither did I until recently.

Lina: If I'd only understood. Oh, Johnnie. But it will be different now. We'll make it different.
Johnnie: People don't change overnight, Lina. I'm no good.

Johnnie: This reminds me of the day we first met on the top of the hill when you wouldn't let me unbutton the top button of your blouse. Do you remember?
Lina: I shall never forget it.
Johnnie: Well, get undressed, old girl. What are you waiting for?

Lina: [about a murder in one of her novels] When he enticed his victim across the footbridge, knowing that the bridge has been sawn through...
Isobel Sedbusk: He also knew that his victim couldn't swim. Don't forget that.
Lina: Well, what I want to know is this. Would you call that an actual murder?
Isobel Sedbusk: Well, from a moral standpoint there's no question at all. It is murder.

Lina: How can you be so gay about something that you should, yes, you should be ashamed of?