James Garner credited as playing...
Duke
- Noah: I am no one special. Just a common man with common thoughts. I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me, and my name will soon be forgotten, but in one respect I've succeeded as gloriously as anyone who ever lived. I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and for me that has always been enough.
- Noah: Summer romances begin for all kinds of reasons, but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common. They're shooting stars, a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, fleeting glimpse of eternity, and in a flash they're gone.
- Duke: They didn't agree on much. In fact they rarely agreed on anything. They fought all the time and they challenged each other everyday...
- Young Noah: [Allie and Noah are fighting] Don't push me!
- [Allie pushes Noah anyway]
- Duke: ...But in spite their differences, they had one important thing in common, they were crazy about each other.
- Duke: I was just going for a walk. I couldn't sleep.
- Nurse Esther: You were going to see Miss Allie. Now you know you're not allowed. It's against the rules. You go back to your room. And as for me, I'm going downstairs to get a cup of coffee and won't be back for a while. Stay out of trouble.
- [Duke walks over to Nurse Esther's counter and sees a full cup of coffee]
- Duke: She had come back into his life like a sudden flame; blazing and streaming into his heart. Noah stayed up all night contemplating the certain agony he knew would be his if he were to lose her twice.
- Nurse Esther: The doctor needs to see you.
- Allie: Me? Now?
- Nurse Esther: No, him.
- Allie: But he hasn't finished reading his story.
- Noah: I'll read some more when I'm through with the doctor. This shouldn't take too long.
- Allie: All right.
- Noah: Don't you go away. I'll be right back.
- Nurse Esther: While you waiting, maybe you'd like to play the piano for a few minutes. You do like that.
- Allie: I do?
- Nurse Esther: Mm-hmm.
- Allie: I don't know any tunes.
- Nurse Esther: You can read music.
- Allie: No kidding?
- Nurse Esther: Mm-hmm.
- Noah: He got the notion into his head that if he restored the old house where they had come that night, Allie would find a way to come back to him. Some called it a labor of love. Others called it something else. But in fact, Noah had gone a little mad.
- Duke: [to Allie - quoting Whitman] I know you feel lost right now, but don't worry. Nothing is ever lost, nor can be lost. The body, sluggish, aged, cold, the embers left, from earlier fires, shall duly flame again.
- Duke: It was an improbable romance. He was a country boy. She was from the city. She had the world at her feet, while he didn't have two dimes to rub together.
- Duke: Southern summers are indifferent to the trials of young love. Armed with warnings and doubts, Noah and Allie gave a remarkably convincing portrayal of a boy and a girl traveling down a very long road with no regard for the consequences.
- Duke: [reading story over scene - after Noah cocks his shotgun] He told the man that offered him $5,000 over his price, that no one in his right mind would do that, and he wouldn't have a lunatic living in his house.
- Duke: Allie was surprised how quickly she fell in love with Lon Hammond. He was handsome, smart, funny, sophisticated, and charming. He also came from old Southern money and was fabulously wealthy.