- Don Bigelow: [Catching Betty with packages as she falls from a department store ladder] Are you all right?
- Betty Miller: Oh, yes. Thank you.
- Don Bigelow: My pleasure. I'm never too busy to help out a little lady in distress. So your, uh, first day?
- Betty Miller: Yes.
- Don Bigelow: Are you, uh, from Los Angeles?
- Betty Miller: [Giggles] No. I'm a country girl. From Visalia.
- Ernie: [Offering Betty a beer] How about you?
- Betty Miller: Um. No, thanks.
- Ben: She don't smoke, drink or nothin'.
- Dee: What do you do for kicks?
- Betty Miller: [laughs uncomfortably] Oh, read Schopenhauer and Spinoza... and help make coconut cake.
- Ben: [to Betty] Say, baby, uh, I guess I oughta tell ya, things aren't quite the same here as they are in Visalia. We aren't quite the cake and ice cream type.
- Betty Miller: Mother, this is Don.
- Don Bigelow: I'm pleased to meet you.
- Mrs. Miller: I'm pleased to meet you.
- Don Bigelow: I, uh, had anticpated meeting a much older woman.
- Mrs. Miller: Daughters usually make out their mothers as old hags.
- Mrs. Miller: Mother, Don brought you some candy.
- Don Bigelow: It's nothing much. Just...
- Mrs. Miller: [Unimpressed] Looks expensive. You're very generous.
- Betty Miller: Mother, please, you promised.
- Mrs. Miller: When a man begins by taking money from a young girl, I have a pretty good idea how it ends up.
- Betty Miller: Don, I had to tell her about the checks.
- Don Bigelow: Well, I'm glad you showed me what kind of family I might have gotten into.
- [Starts to leave]
- Don Bigelow: You'll excuse me.
- Gertie: [In prison holding cell] First time in, honey?
- [Betty nods yes]
- Gertie: Little scared, huh? Ah, we all get scared at first. Don't let it throw ya. What are they holding you for?
- Betty Miller: I helped hold up a theater.
- Gertie: Well, you can't even hold up your chin. Well, never admit anything like that. Simply say you were accused.
- Betty Miller: We didn't use a gun or anything.
- Gertie: Save it for the judge. You got bail?
- Gertie: No. But they let me call my mother.
- Gertie: Oh. I thought maybe you were alone.
- Betty Miller: Well, I... Idon't have any friends here..
- Gertie: You from out of town?
- Betty Miller: Visalia
- Gertie: Visalia. You've got a lot of personality, honey. You could go places under right management. Ever hear of Gertie's Striptown?
- [Betty shakes her head no]
- Gertie: That's me. I've got connections, honey. If things don't turn out right for ya, get in touch with me. Either way, get in touch with me, understand?
- Don Bigelow: My folks prefer Florida. Now me, I... I prefer any place, just as long as you're there.
- Linda: Aren't you ever serious?
- Don Bigelow: Yes, I'm serious enough to come down to Palm Springs to meet your parents.
- Linda: Careful, I might take you up on it.
- Don Bigelow: And after we meet them, we could sneak away. Drive to Las Vegas.
- Linda: To gamble?
- Don Bigelow: Well, some people call it gambling. A marriage license.
- Linda: You are a gambler, aren't you. And not only on the stock market.
- Don Bigelow: No, I don't consider you a gamble, darling.
- Gertie: [Being escorted into a holding cell, she greets everybody] Hello again, you dolls!
- Elsie: Kinda looks like old home week. Remember me, Gertie?
- Gertie: I've done my best to forget
- Elsie: Yeah.
- [Looking at Betty]
- Elsie: She looks like she might be a good recruit for your charm school.
- Gertie: Get lost.
- Don Bigelow: [On the phone] Darling, I've been trying to reach you all evening!... Well, you have your car back good tomorrow... . I'm fired?... Listen, wrinklepuss, for the services that I've rendered your department, believe me, dear, I was underpaid anyway.
- Don Bigelow: [At the beach] Are you going to stay down here with the kids or what?
- Betty Miller: Oh, we'll probably be going back soon.
- Don Bigelow: What for?
- Betty Miller: We came out early.
- Don Bigelow: Well, I've got a much better idea. Why don't we drive up the coast. They're not even going to miss you.
- Betty Miller: Oh, I couldn't.
- Don Bigelow: Why? Do you have a late date waiting for you at home?
- Betty Miller: I don't go in much for that sort of thing.
- Don Bigelow: Well, I have. With you it's not the same.
- Betty Miller: Well, I shouldn't really.
- Don Bigelow: Don't you want to go?
- Betty Miller: Yes.
- Don Bigelow: Then it's settled. Come on. We'll change in the car. Come on.
- Betty Miller: I'm sorry things are working out this way.
- Don Bigelow: Why be sorry? Everything's working out fine.
- Betty Miller: I mean our... our having to get married.
- Don Bigelow: Why are you complaining? You're getting yourself a husband and I'm getting out of jail. I think that's a pretty good deal all around.
- Betty Miller: You don't have to marry me.
- Don Bigelow: Really? That's not the way I heard.
- Betty Miller: What was the way you heard it?
- Don Bigelow: That I would serve every last day of that sentence unless I... I... Ha, what a choice.
- Betty Miller: You really mean that.
- Don Bigelow: What do you want me to do? Put my hand on the wedding Bible and swear that?
- Betty Miller: [Cries] You...
- Don Bigelow: What?
- Betty Miller: [Giving him back a cameo he gave her as she leaves] That's something I won't be giving to my eldest son.
- Mrs. Horton: Our home is supported largely from what we receive from the adopting foster parent. For that reason, we are reluctant to admit unwed, expectant mothers with police records. But I see no reason why we shouldn't make an exception in your case in view of what Mr. Curtis has told us are the circumstances.
- Betty Miller: Thank you. There are no excuses.
- Doctor: [Creepily to Betty] There's nothing to be frightened about.
- [to his female nurse]
- Doctor: If you knew she was nervous, why didn't you give her a sedative to relax her? I don't want to be around here all day.
- Doctor's Nurse: She's one of Gertie's gals. You want me to cancel out?
- Doctor: When I want your suggestions, I'll ask for them.
- [He checks Betty's eyes with his hands]
- Betty Miller: Why are you doing that?
- Doctor: Let's say I'm a little bit choosey about my patients, dear. I don't take any chances.
- Betty Miller: Is it dangerous?
- Doctor's Nurse: Not a thing to worry about, dearie.
- Doctor: You'll have to stop shaking. I can't do my work!
- [to his nurse]
- Doctor: She's too nervous. Give her a double sedative. Make it strong. Call me when she's ready.
- [Abortion doctor exits]
- Ray Curtis: From your record, Bigelow, you're quite a boy.
- Don Bigelow: I suppose that means that I'm getting bum probation for it, huh?
- Ray Curtis: That's putting it real gently.
- Don Bigelow: And what does that mean?
- Ray Curtis: Society doesn't deserve the privilege of your company. You're headed for the County work farm. And I couldn't care less.
- Don Bigelow: And Betty goes Scott free, I suppose.
- Ray Curtis: Undoubtedly she'll be placed on probation. At least she won't be mixed up by you any longer.
- Don Bigelow: Now you've got it wrong. Maybe I won't be mixed up by her.
- Betty Miller: You named the baby after the father, didn't you?
- Louella: I wouldn't name one of our cats after him.
- Mrs. Horton: There are a few formalities we have to finish up. Now if you will sign this paper for me please. You can sign it right here.
- [Betty stalls in signing the adoption paper]
- Mrs. Horton: You know, Betty, the Paulleys have been very liberal with us. The check they gave us can take care of 20 girls, maybe more. What's the trouble, Betty?
- Betty Miller: I won't do it.
- Mrs. Horton: I thought we made an agreement. I... I thought that you agreed to do this.
- Betty Miller: I did. But it was wrong.
- Mrs. Horton: Is it?
- Betty Miller: That check they gave you. It was as if they were buying my child.
- Mrs. Horton: Betty, you are an emotionally young, stable girl. If you weren't you wouldn't be facing this problem now . Are you going to let your own selfishness stand in the way of a financial security for your baby? A chance to have a good home? A good education? A good future? Well, are you?
- Betty Miller: What about a mother's love?
- Mrs. Horton: Well, if you decide to keep your baby, what can you really offer him? Blank space on a birth certificate? The opportunity to be called a lot of nasty, vile names? A mother who has to act as both parents when she'll be so busy earning a living she won't have time to be one?
- Betty Miller: Don't worry about my child's future.
- Mrs. Horton: Well, Betty, I wouldn't if you would just place him in a proper home.
- Betty Miller: Well, my home is the proper home
- Mrs. Horton: Oh, who are you to stand there and tell me what is right and what is wrong? So far your actions have been wrong.
- Betty Miller: You don't know what it's like. You sit there so safe and sound and sure of yourself. on the other side of the desk.
- Mrs. Horton: I WAS on the other side of that... on the other side of that desk. 11 years ago.
- Betty Miller: You have a child?
- Mrs. Horton: There never was a Mr. Horton. But I had a child, yes.
- Betty Miller: I didn't know.
- Mrs. Horton: Nobody does.
- Betty Miller: You've never regretted your decision?
- Mrs. Horton: A million times. But I know the decision was the right one for my baby.
- [after a long pause, Betty signs the adoption paper and exits the office]
- Mr. Paully: We do know how to raise a child. We had one of our own. Joey. And there was the war. Well, it's lonely when there is no one.
- Betty Miller: I understand that you were concerned about my criminal record. That my baby might inherit some of my traits.
- Mr. Paully: Well, I have to admit we were a little afraid of it. Now that we have met you, I am certain we have nothing to worry about.
- Mrs. Paully: And we hope it will be a boy.
- Betty Miller: Well, I will certainly do my best.
- Betty Miller: You know I use go hunting with my dad a lot. We had a bird dog named Katy. She got ill and was in so much pain Dad had to put her down to sleep. Ever see a man cry?
- Mousie: My Uncle Ben. When he was sauced to the eye.
- Louella: [Talking about a make believe husband] I just want him to be an ordinary guy.. Ordinary looks. Ordinary job. One who could fall in love with an ordinary girl like me for the rest of his life.