A Little Princess

Miss Minchin: [after ordering the girls out and punishing Becky, to Sara] And you will perform all her chores in addition to your own without breakfast, lunch, OR dinner! It's time you learn, Sara Crewe, that real life has nothing to do with your little fantasy games. It's a cruel, nasty world out there, and it's our duty to make the best of it - not to indulge in ridiculous *dreams*, but to be productive and useful! Do you understand what I'm saying?

Sara Crewe: [short pause] Yes, ma'am.

Miss Minchin: [short pause] Good.

[she leaves]

Sara Crewe: But I don't believe in it.

[Miss Minchin stops, turns back to Sara, and goes awestruck]

Miss Minchin: Don't tell me you still fancy yourself a princess!

[laughs]

Miss Minchin: Good God, child, look around you! Or better yet, look in the mirror!

[after a long pause]

Sara Crewe: [confidently] I am a princess.

Miss Minchin: [in disbelief] Oh!

Sara Crewe: All girls are! Even if they live in tiny old attics, even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young, they're still princesses - *all* of us! Didn't *your* father ever tell you that? Didn't he?

Miss Minchin: [furiously, in tears] If I find you up here with any of the girls again, I WILL THROW YOU OUT INTO THE STREET!