Jezebel (1938)

Henry Fonda: Preston Dillard

Photos 

Quotes 

• Julie : Pres, why did you do it? Why Pres?

  Preston Dillard : Because I love her.

  Julie : But you had my love.

  Preston Dillard : And lost it.

  Julie : Wasn't that memory more real than anything she had to give to you?

  [Preston walks away] 

  Julie : Oh, don't be cross with me, Pres. Just tell me. You must!

  Preston Dillard : Please don't, Julie!

  Julie : Shall I cry for you? Nobody ever made me cry but you... And that was only twice! Do you remember?

  Preston Dillard : Yes.

  Julie : How much do you remember?

  Preston Dillard : Everything you ever said or did. But that's passed now, Julie. Done. Finished.

  Julie : I ought to have come to you. I wanted to so terribly. It was because I wanted to so much that I couldn't. You do understand that, don't you, Pres?

  Preston Dillard : I didn't understand. I just knew what you did.

  Julie : But you had to come back home, didn't you? You had to come back to the country and the things you know, because you belong here! Nothing can change that. Pres, Listen... Can you hear them? The night noises? The mockingbird in the magnolia? See the moss hanging from the moonlight? You can fairly taste the night, can't you? You're part of it, Pres, and it's part of you. Like I am. You can't get away from us, Pres, we're both in your blood. This is the country you were born to, the country you know and trust. Your country, Pres! Amy wouldn't understand. She'd think there'd be snakes.

  Preston Dillard : Julie, please!

  Julie : Oh, it isn't tame and easy like the North. It's quick and dangerous, but you trust it! Remember how the fever mist smells in the bottoms, rank and rotten? But you trust that, too, because it's part of you. Just as I'm part of you and we'll never let you go!

  [Julie kisses Preston, he pushes her away] 

  Julie : Pres, you're afraid!

  [Preston glares at her angrily and walks away] 

• Preston Dillard : You haven't a partner you have to meet, Cantrell?

  Buck Cantrell : Why, no. Came alone.

  Preston Dillard : [they glare at each other]  Pleasant evening, isn't it?

  Buck Cantrell : Mighty pleasant. Nice and cool...

  Preston Dillard : [pointedly]  Do you find it cool in here? I don't find it particularly cool. Do you, Julie?

  Julie Marsden : [looks up at Pres]  Why... Why, no.

  Preston Dillard : [steps towards Buck]  I don't find it particularly cool. Miss Julie doesn't find it so.

  Buck Cantrell : [stares at Pres]  Why, no. Now you speak of it, it's just about right.

  Preston Dillard : Seems so to me.

  Buck Cantrell : [glares at Pres as a waltz begins]  Your servant. Yours, Miss Julie.

  [bows to Julie] 

• Julie : [before Preston walks away]  Oh, Preston, you forgot your stick.

  Preston Dillard : So I did.

  [glares at Julie] 

  Preston Dillard : I forgot to use it, too.

  Julie : [replies smartly]  So you did.

• Julie : Why, Pres. Bangin' on a lady's door. I'm scandalized at you. Well, did you come up here just to stand there?

  Preston Dillard : Julie, how long must we go on like this?

  Julie : Like what, Pres?

  Preston Dillard : Fightin', fussin' all the time, like a couple of children.

  Julie : Why do you treat me like a child?

  Preston Dillard : Because you act like one. A spoiled one.

  Julie : You used to say you liked me like that once. You never wanted me to change. Remember?

  Preston Dillard : Julie.

  Julie : [after he kisses her]  Why, Pres. In a lady's bedroom. Now you'll have to marry me.

  Preston Dillard : What do you figure I aim to do?

  Julie : Then kiss me again.

• Julie Marsden : Well, shall we go, Pres?

  Preston Dillard : Not 'til you're properly dressed.

  Julie Marsden : You're sure it's the dress? It couldn't be that you're afraid? Afraid somebody will insult me and you'll find it necessary to defend me?

• Julie : Your wife?

  Amy Bradford Dillard : And you're, may I say, "Julie"?

  Julie : Pres's wife? You're funning.

  Preston Dillard : Hardly.

  Julie : Married? My felicitations, Pres.

• Preston Dillard : [tasting Uncle Cato's mint julep]  You haven't forgotten how.

  Uncle Cato : Me, sir? The head might forget, but the hand remembers. Anyhow, Miss Julie, she's right in behind me all day to fix them just the way you used to like them.

  Preston Dillard : Uncle Cato, how is Miss Julie?

  Uncle Cato : Miss Julie? Why, she's just Miss Julie.

  Preston Dillard : Just the same?

  Uncle Cato : Well, I reckon princesses, they just naturally grows up to be queens, that's all.

  Preston Dillard : Uncle Cato, we've known each other a long time. I'm back now. Home. It's a special occasion.

  [asking him to have a drink] 

  Preston Dillard : Will you join me in one?

  Uncle Cato : [flustered]  Why, why, Mr. Pres, it ain't hardly proper, but I'll kindly take one out in the pantry and bless you and Miss Julie.

• Julie Marsden : Would you like to see my new dress?

  Preston Dillard : That's what I wanted to do all day!

  Julie Marsden : Well, let me go. There it is.

  Preston Dillard : For the Olympus Ball?

  Julie Marsden : Isn't it lovely?

  Preston Dillard : Julie, it's red!

  Julie Marsden : It's gorgeously red!

  Preston Dillard : You can't wear red to the Olympus Ball!

  Julie Marsden : Why not?

  Preston Dillard : You never saw an unmarried girl in anything but white!

  Julie Marsden : Well, you're going to see one tomorrow night.

  Preston Dillard : Julie, you can't be serious!

  Julie Marsden : Are you afraid someone will take me for one of those girls from Gallatin Street?

  Preston Dillard : Julie!

  Julie Marsden : Oh, I'm sorry! I forgot: I'm a child. I'm not supposed to know about things like Gallatin Street. I'm just supposed to flutter around in white.

  Preston Dillard : You're supposed to know better than to scandalize the whole town!

  Julie Marsden : [sarcastically sincere]  It might be bad for the bank. Of course! Will you please hold another directors' meeting and ask them to decide what I can wear?

  Preston Dillard : Julie, for heaven's sake! Will you be reasonable?

  Julie Marsden : Were you reasonable this afternoon?

  Preston Dillard : So, that's it! You're just nursing a spite. Well, I'm not going to let you. You've made your point. For once, you're going to do as I say. I'm calling for you tomorrow night at ten, and you're going to be dressed properly for the ball, in white!

  Julie Marsden : Am I? Oh, but, of course, Preston. If you say so.

  Preston Dillard : Don't be absurd! Your own good sense will say so!

  Julie Marsden : And if it doesn't?

  Preston Dillard : Then, my sweet, you and I will sit at home quietly with our embroidery.

  [He kisses Julie] 

  Preston Dillard : Good night. Tomorrow night at ten.