- Elsa Middleton: Mother's going away for a little while. And, when she comes back, she won't be married to Daddy anymore.
- Molly Middleton: Who will you be married to, Mommy?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: This experiment is only based on a sort of a hunch.
- Sarah Boynton: All scientific experiments are based on a sort of a hunch. Backed up with knowledge and effort and patience.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: This means a great deal to me, Boynton. If it works, it means the Guggenheim Fellowship. You don't know how much I used to dream about going abroad to study. Heidelberg, Vienna. Magic words once. Now I'm married and have to settle down to being a small-time doctor in a little town.
- Sarah Boynton: I know.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: At first I thought I might save enough. But then the baby came.
- Sarah Boynton: I know.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Oh, I'm not regretting anything, make no mistake about that. My wife and Molly are... Well, I'm a lucky stiff, Boynton. You know that, don't you?
- Sarah Boynton: Yes, Doctor.
- Molly Middleton: We can't go up to Heaven's Gate without a cake, can we, Mommy?
- Elsa Middleton: No, darling, we certainly can't.
- Amy: I wish you'd let me help you, Mrs. Middleton.
- Molly Middleton: This is work that only Mommy and I can do.
- Elsa Middleton: This is a very special day. It only happens twice a year.
- Amy: Twice a year? What makes this day different from any other day?
- Elsa Middleton: This is the day that Molly and I call May Saturday. The other one comes in September.
- Molly Middleton: We call that September Saturday.
- Elsa Middleton: Young lady, who do you work for?
- Molly Middleton: For you.
- Elsa Middleton: And who does Mommy work for?
- Molly Middleton: For Daddy.
- Elsa Middleton: And who does Daddy work for?
- Molly Middleton: For the butcher and grocer and the tax-collector and the telephone company.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Hello, darling. How's the most beautiful woman in the world?
- Elsa Middleton: Just waiting breathlessly for the world's handsomest man to come home.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Well, that's what I called you about. I won't be able to get home at all today. I wanted to call and let you know in time. You see, I'm right in the middle of an important experiment. I don't think I'll even be able to make it in time for dinner.
- Elsa Middleton: But darling, this is May Saturday.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Uh-oh. May Saturday. Well, couldn't we possibly put it off till next week?
- Elsa Middleton: No, dear, we couldn't put it off. Oh, I know that sounds like a very selfish wife, but twice a year I reserve the right to be selfish. Twice a year I insist on coming between you and your work.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: But darling, I'm doing all this for you and Molly.
- Elsa Middleton: But May Saturday is for Molly, too.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: I'm taking the day off, Boynton, on important business.
- Sarah Boynton: But, Doctor...
- Dr. Donald Middleton: I said important business.
- Molly Middleton: You were almost late, Daddy.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Almost never won first prize. Say, where do you want us to sit?
- Molly Middleton: Oh, as if you didn't know.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: No, honestly, I've forgotten.
- Molly Middleton: You've forgotten where we sit when we picnic at Heaven's Gate? Oh, Daddy! Have you forgotten, too, Mommy? Do I have to tell you?
- Elsa Middleton: Afraid so.
- Molly Middleton: Right over there, where we always sit every May and September.
- Molly Middleton: Do I blow my nose, Daddy?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: If you think you can get the crumbs off that way, sure.
- Elsa Middleton: I was just thinking of our early struggle.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: It wasn't any picnic for you, was it?
- Elsa Middleton: It was grand, though. When our living room was your office, and I had to chase down prescriptions and hand you the instruments. Emergency calls at all hours. Me having to hold the patients' hands.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Molly changed all that, didn't she? I just had to hire a regular nurse.
- Elsa Middleton: Oh, I know Miss Boynton's been wonderful, but now that Molly's no longer a baby, don't you think that...
- Dr. Donald Middleton: That I could get along without Boynton? Why, Elsa, I don't know what I'd do.
- Elsa Middleton: Oh, Don, I do wish that...
- Dr. Donald Middleton: That what?
- Elsa Middleton: Forget it.
- Rolfe Brent: Look here, why don't the two of you come and go riding with me sometime?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Thanks, Brent. Mrs. Middleton might. The only thing I ride is that old bus of mine. It bounces just as much, but it doesn't bite.
- Rolfe Brent: How about you, Mrs. Middleton?
- Elsa Middleton: Oh, I haven't ridden in years. I don't know if I could.
- Rolfe Brent: Oh, of course you could. You used to be great.
- Molly Middleton: Of course you could, Mommy. You just get on them and go.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: But don't you let her take any of those jumps until she's all set.
- Rolfe Brent: You can trust me, Doctor. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, Mrs. Middleton, around ten o'clock?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: She'll get a big kick out of it.
- Molly Middleton: She doesn't want to get kicked, Daddy.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Finishing your dinner off the mantelpiece?
- Elsa Middleton: I'm not as ancient and decrepit as you thought, is that what you mean?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: How'd your old riding outfit work this morning?
- Elsa Middleton: I can just squeeze into it, thank you kindly. You know, Don, I wish you'd go riding with me, or... or something.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Me riding would be something.
- Sarah Boynton: Now that we've gotten positive results from the cultures, I'm sure you'll be able to prove your entire theory.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: If I only can, it'll mean the beginning of a whole new treatment.
- Sarah Boynton: And don't worry about things while you're away.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: What do you mean? Why should I?
- Sarah Boynton: Oh, uh, I meant about the patients. I'm sure I'll be able to take care of them in your absence.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: I know I can always count on you, Boynton.
- Elsa Middleton: Oh, Don, must you go to New York?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Darling, this is the chance of a lifetime.
- Elsa Middleton: I know, and I don't want to be a bad sport, but must you go at this particular time?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: What's the matter, Elsa?
- Elsa Middleton: I suppose I'm being foolish, but I get so bored and lonely, just waiting for an occasional glimpse of you.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: You poor dear. It isn't much fun for you, is it?
- Elsa Middleton: Darling, take me with you.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: But that wouldn't be any fun for you. I go from hospital to hospital day and night.
- Elsa Middleton: I wouldn't mind. I'd wait for you.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: But you just said...
- Elsa Middleton: That's right. I did, didn't I?
- Elsa Middleton: Poor Don, cooped up in that laboratory with poisonous gases and diphtheria germs.
- Rolfe Brent: I thought it was only for a few days?
- Elsa Middleton: Don forgets time when he's working.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: [after Molly falls down] Are you hurt?
- Molly Middleton: [rubbing her bottom] I think I might have a little fever.
- Molly Middleton: Daddy, it's September Saturday, and we're not going, because I'm a big girl now. Daddy, why do we have to go and get big?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Oh, it's not because you're so big. I think you're still pretty little. But we just can't manage Heaven's Gate anymore because... things are all changed.
- Molly Middleton: Because Mommy's going away?
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Because of a lot of things. We're all so sorry, you, and Daddy... and your mother, I guess. But we'll just have to look for something else to have fun with. There's going to be a circus in town next Saturday. Gee, I'd like to see a circus, won't you?
- Molly Middleton: I'd like to see a circus if it didn't come on September Saturday.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: I didn't particularly care for that farewell speech you just made to Brent!
- Elsa Middleton: Don, don't say anything you're going to be sorry for.
- Molly Middleton: Why don't we have dinner anymore, Amy?
- Amy: What do you mean, don't have dinner anymore? You have dinner every night, don't you?
- Molly Middleton: I mean with Daddy and Mommy, like before.
- Amy: Oh, I don't know. Anyway, it's none of my business.
- Molly Middleton: Is it any of my business?
- Amy: If those people would only go away and leave them alone, everything would be all right.
- Molly Middleton: If who would go away and leave them alone, Amy?
- Amy: That nurse and that Mr. Brent.
- Rolfe Brent: Hello, Molly.
- Molly Middleton: Hello.
- [Rolfe reaches to down to pick up Molly, but she backs away from him]
- Rolfe Brent: Well, what's wrong?
- Molly Middleton: I don't like to be picked up. Except by my daddy.
- Rolfe Brent: Well, he's not here just now, Molly. Won't you let me do it?
- Molly Middleton: You don't know how a daddy does.
- Rolfe Brent: I could learn.
- Molly Middleton: It's very hard to learn, sir.
- Rolfe Brent: Let's have a trial. Let's pretend I'm the daddy and you're the little girl.
- Molly Middleton: But I *am* the little girl!
- Rolfe Brent: Why don't you like me, Molly? I like you. I like you and your mother and your daddy.
- Molly Middleton: I don't care! We don't like you! We wish you'd go away and never come back!
- Rolfe Brent: Who's we, Molly? Your mother?
- [Molly nods]
- Rolfe Brent: Are you sure?
- [Molly runs away]
- Molly Middleton: I told him, Amy.
- Amy: What?
- Molly Middleton: I told Mr. Brent what you said.
- Amy: What I said?
- Molly Middleton: About Mommy and Daddy and me and wishing he'd go away and never come back.
- Amy: What? To his face? Look here, miss, you're going to get into trouble for that! And don't say I told you so!
- Molly Middleton: But you said...
- Amy: I said nothing about him, you understand?
- Molly Middleton: Is it the worst thing I've ever done, Amy?
- Amy: Yes, I think maybe it is.
- Molly Middleton: Will Mommy spank me?
- Amy: Yes, I think maybe she will.
- Molly Middleton: Will Daddy? He never has.
- Amy: Well, maybe he won't, not for anything you said to Mr. Brent.
- Molly Middleton: I was naughty today, Mommy, worser than I've ever been before.
- Elsa Middleton: Why, what on earth have you done?
- Molly Middleton: This morning, I told Mr. Brent we didn't like him.
- Elsa Middleton: That wasn't very kind.
- Molly Middleton: And I told him we wished he'd go away and never come back.
- Elsa Middleton: But that isn't true, Molly.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Look at this. A few months ago, that would've meant everything in the world to me.
- Sarah Boynton: It's the fellowship! Congratulations!
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Yeah, congratulations, it's swell.
- Sarah Boynton: For once I'm going to talk to you not as your assisstant, but as your friend. It's not worthy of you to act this way.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Please, Boynton, don't interfere.
- Sarah Boynton: Don't interfere? Do you expect me to stand idly by and watch you ruin your life? I understand what's going on between your wife and Mr. Brent.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Keep quiet! What right have you...
- Sarah Boynton: What right have I? Because I love you.
- Rolfe Brent: Molly, I want to ask you something.
- Molly Middleton: Yes, Mr. Brent?
- Rolfe Brent: Would you like to call me Uncle Rolfe?
- Molly Middleton: No, thank you.
- Rolfe Brent: Well, I don't much care for that uncle business, either. How about just calling me Rolfe, then, without the uncle?
- Molly Middleton: Can't we just talk without me calling you anything, sir?
- Rolfe Brent: I'm afraid not, Molly. You see, you're coming to live in my house pretty soon.
- Molly Middleton: You can't live in anybody's house but your own.
- Rolfe Brent: Oh, but it will be your own.
- Molly Middleton: He's teasing.
- Elsa Middleton: No, Molly, he's not teasing.
- Elsa Middleton: Molly, you're getting too big for Heaven's Gate.
- Molly Middleton: But you and Daddy didn't get too big.
- Rolfe Brent: Don, I want to talk to you.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: There's nothing to talk about.
- Rolfe Brent: Now, wait a minute. The blame isn't all on one side, you know. It won't do you a bit of harm to listen to the truth. I didn't take Elsa from you. You gave her to me.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: What are you talking about?
- Rolfe Brent: You were at the office or the laboratory morning, noon, and night.
- Elsa Middleton: I had no logical reason for coming back. I guess it's just what Don would call... a hunch.
- Rolfe Brent: But darling, I thought we'd agreed on everything.
- Elsa Middleton: Maybe I'm being foolish, but I had to be sure.
- Rolfe Brent: You've got to trust my judgement. I mean, the situation would be easier and simpler if it weren't for Molly.
- Elsa Middleton: Don't say that!
- Rolfe Brent: But we've got our own lives to live. If it weren't for Molly, I know we could be happy together.
- Molly Middleton: [to her dog, Mr. Smith] I think it would be easier for them if you weren't here, either, so you and me, we'll run away. Now, don't make a fuss, Smithy. We've got to remember that we're growed up now. Besides, you have me and I have you. We'll always have each other, won't we, Smithy? We'll go to Heaven's Gate first and say goodbye to it, and then we'll go a long ways away.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Did you and Mommy get into any mischief while I was gone?
- Molly Middleton: No, I haven't thought of any good mischief, and Mommy's been too busy riding.
- Rolfe Brent: You know, Don, I have too much time to play, and maybe you haven't enough.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Oh, I have all I want. Elsa can represent me in the sporting world.
- Rolfe Brent: Well, if I had such a charming representative, I'd retire to the sidelines, too.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: You playboys are the ones who are really on the sidelines.
- Sarah Boynton: It's Mrs. Stevens, Doctor, on an emergency.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Did you bring the kit?
- Sarah Boynton: Yes, I have it outside.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: You'll have to excuse me.
- Elsa Middleton: Let me come, too, Don. I can at least keep the other Stevenses out of the room.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: You stay here and finish your dinner.
- Elsa Middleton: But you may be late.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: If I am, I'm sure Rolfe will be kind enough to escort you home.
- Rolfe Brent: You mean lucky enough.
- Rolfe Brent: You know, Don, it's uncommon that you would risk such a lovely girl with someone as susceptible as I am.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Well, if you don't think I worry about it, you're crazy.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: That job needed us both, Boynton.
- Sarah Boynton: I wish you wouldn't call me that.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: Why not?
- Sarah Boynton: Because I have a real name, you know. It's Sarah.
- Dr. Donald Middleton: All right, Sarah. Goodnight. Oh, and don't let me forget to fill out that report on the measles case tomorrow. Remind me in the morning, will you, Boynton?
- Sarah Boynton: Yes, Doctor.
- Rolfe Brent: I know I'm a fool. I know I may be spoiling everything. But I just can't keep up the pretense. I want so much to...
- Elsa Middleton: Go ahead. I'm not afraid.
- Rolfe Brent: Elsa, you must know that...
- Elsa Middleton: I know. I'm very fond of you, too, Rolfe.