A Taste of Honey quotes, Act One, Scene One

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  • Created by: Beata16
  • Created on: 28-02-17 16:35
I don't like it.
Jo about the flat
1 of 131
It's all I can afford.
Helen about the flat
2 of 131
When you start earning you can start moaning.
Helen to Jo
3 of 131
her immoral earnings
Jo about Helen
4 of 131
I don't owe you a thing.
Jo to Helen
5 of 131
Drink, drink, drink, that's all you're fit for. You make me sick.
Jo to Helen
6 of 131
You know I don't like it.
Jo about alcohol
7 of 131
It consoles you.
Helen about alcohol
8 of 131
You're knocking it back worse than ever.
Jo to Helen about Helen drinking
9 of 131
Wouldn't she get on your nerves.
Helen about Jo
10 of 131
You always have to rush off into things. You never think.
Jo to Helen
11 of 131
She can't do a thing for herself, that girl.
Helen about Jo
12 of 131
Where all the cows, sheep and pigs go in and all the beef, pork and mutton comes out.
Helen about the slaughterhouse they live near
13 of 131
This whole city smells.
Helen
14 of 131
Helen, stop sniffing. It sounds awful.
Jo to Helen (note how Jo calls her mother)
15 of 131
"She's not got a bit of consideration in her. It's self all the time."
Helen about Jo
16 of 131
it's no use worrying, is it?
Helen about dying
17 of 131
I didn't think he'd miss half a dozen.
Jo about stealing the bulbs
18 of 131
That's the way to do things. If you see something you want, take it.
Helen
19 of 131
See yourself.
Jo to Helen
20 of 131
I would never have dared talk to my mother like that when I was her age. She'd have knocked me into the middle of next week.
Helen
21 of 131
are you still set on leaving school at Christmas?
Helen to Jo, Jo replies, "Yes."
22 of 131
Get out of your sight as soon as I can get a bit of money in my pocket.
Jo to Helen
23 of 131
After all, you're not very fond of work, are you?
Helen to Jo
24 of 131
No, I take after you.
Jo to Helen
25 of 131
Puts me in mind of my first job, in a tatty little pub down Whit Lane. I thought it was wonderful ... You know, playing the piano and all that; a real get-together at weekends.
Helen
26 of 131
Anyway, it's your life, ruin it your own way. It's a waste of time interfering with other people ... It takes me all my time to look after myself, I know that.
Helen to Jo
27 of 131
really you think you could make a better job of it, don't you?
Jo to Helen
28 of 131
What?
Helen (in response to last)
29 of 131
Ruining my life. After all, you've had plenty of practice.
Jo (in response to last)
30 of 131
I certainly supervised my own downfall.
Helen
31 of 131
Anyway, I'm not getting married like you did.
Jo to Helen
32 of 131
Oh
Helen (in response to last)
33 of 131
I'm too young and beautiful for that.
Jo (in response to last)
34 of 131
Listen to it! Still, we all have funny ideas at that age
Helen (in response to last)
35 of 131
I thought you said you weren't good at anything
Helen to Jo
36 of 131
I'm never at one school long enough to show them anything.
Jo
37 of 131
You will wander about the country.
Jo to Helen
38 of 131
I didn't realize I had such a talented daughter.
Helen
39 of 131
I'm not just talented, I'm geniused.
Jo
40 of 131
they're very artistic though ... Have you ever thought of going to a proper art school and getting a proper training?
Helen
41 of 131
It's too late.
Jo (in response)
42 of 131
I'll pay. You're not stupid. You'll soon learn.
Helen (response)
43 of 131
You're wasting yourself.
Helen
44 of 131
So long as I don't waste anybody else. Why are you so suddenly interested in me, anyway? You've never cared much before about what I was doing or what I was trying to do or the difference between them.
Jo (response)
45 of 131
I was fed up with the other place.
Helen
46 of 131
You mean you're running away from somebody.
Jo (response)
47 of 131
she'd drive you out of your mind.
Helen about Jo
48 of 131
Don't you think I get fed up with all this flitting about?
Jo
49 of 131
That's all we do, live out of a travelling-bag.
Jo
50 of 131
Don't worry, you'll soon be an independent working woman and free to go where you please.
Helen (response)
51 of 131
The sooner the better. I'm sick of you. You've made my life a misery.
Jo (response)
52 of 131
Oh! Get out of my sight. Go and have your bath.
Helen to Jo
53 of 131
Why should I do anything for you? You never do anything for me.
Jo to Helen
54 of 131
Just passing ... How did you find my address?
Helen to Peter
55 of 131
I found it. Did you think you could escape me, dear?
Peter (response)
56 of 131
So that's what she was running away from.
Jo (response)
57 of 131
Who's this?
Peter (response)
58 of 131
My daughter.
Helen (response)
59 of 131
Oh! Hello there. That puts another ten years on her.
Peter (response)
60 of 131
What's this one called?
Jo (response)
61 of 131
Smith
Helen (response)
62 of 131
You told me not to trust men calling themselves Smith.
Jo (response)
63 of 131
Oh go and have your bath.
Helen (response)
64 of 131
What did you want to follow me here?
Helen to Peter
65 of 131
(fumbling): You know what I want.
Peter (response)
66 of 131
Give over ... He would show up just when I've got her hanging round my neck.
Helen (response)
67 of 131
I suppose she hasn't told you about me.
Jo to Peter
68 of 131
Christ!
Peter (response)
69 of 131
Turn yourself into a bloody termite and crawl into the wall or something, but make yourself scarce.
Helen to Jo
70 of 131
Get rid of her.
Peter (response)
71 of 131
I can't. Anyway, nobody asked you to come here.
Helen (response)
72 of 131
I can't afford to be so classy.
Helen to Peter
73 of 131
Nobody could live in a place like this.
Peter
74 of 131
Now you know you're glad to see me, kid.
Peter to Helen
75 of 131
No I'm not. The only consolation I can find in your immediate presence is your ultimate absence.
Helen (response)
76 of 131
In that case, I'll stay.
Peter (response)
77 of 131
Oh! Throw that cigar away. It looks bloody ridiculous stuck in your mouth like a horizontal chimney.
Helen to Peter
78 of 131
You can't afford to lose a man like me.
Peter
79 of 131
I'm thinking of giving it up.
Helen
80 of 131
What?
Peter (response)
81 of 131
Sex! Men!
Helen (response)
82 of 131
What have we done to deserve this?
Peter (response)
83 of 131
It's not what you've done. It's what I've done.
Helen (response)
84 of 131
Send her to the pictures.
Peter about Jo
85 of 131
Come on down to the church and I'll make an honest woman of you.
Peter
86 of 131
I'm offering to marry you, dear.
Peter
87 of 131
You what?
Helen (response)
88 of 131
I'm old enough to be you mother.
Helen to Peter
89 of 131
Now you know I like this mother and son relationship.
Peter
90 of 131
you certainly liberate something in me. And I don't think it's maternal instincts either.
Helen to Peter
91 of 131
The world is littered with women I've rejected, women still anxious to indulge my little vices and excuse my less seemly virtues.
Peter
92 of 131
Don't run away.
Peter to Jo
93 of 131
I'm not running. (Sits)
Jo (response)
94 of 131
Is she always like this?
Peter (response)
95 of 131
She's jealous ...
Helen (response)
96 of 131
That's something I didn't bargain for.
Peter (response)
97 of 131
Can't bear to see me being affectionate with anybody.
Helen (response)
98 of 131
You've certainly never been affectionate with me.
Jo (response)
99 of 131
Still, she's old enough to take care of herself.
Peter (response)
100 of 131
Makes it as weak as she can because she knows I like it strong.
Helen about Jo
101 of 131
She should be in bed.
Jo about Helen
102 of 131
I know she should.
Peter (response)
103 of 131
You look very pale and sickly, Helen.
Jo (response)
104 of 131
Thank you.
Helen (response)
105 of 131
Is he going?
Jo (response)
106 of 131
What does the little lady want? An engagement ring?
Peter
107 of 131
I should have thought their courtship had passed the stage of symbolism.
Jo (response)
108 of 131
I always accept the odd diamond ring with pleasure.
Helen (response)
109 of 131
I know it's my money you're after.
Peter (response)
110 of 131
Are you kidding?
Helen (response)
111 of 131
Why don't you go home to your father?
Peter to Jo
112 of 131
He's dead.
Jo (response)
113 of 131
Too bad. Anyway ...
Peter (response)
114 of 131
Take no notice of her. She thinks she's funny.
Helen to Peter
115 of 131
So does he! I bet he's married.
Jo (response)
116 of 131
You're not really going to marry her, are you? She's a devil with the men.
Jo
117 of 131
the cat's been on the strawberries.
Peter about Helen
118 of 131
You know how fragile these old ladies are.
Peter
119 of 131
Are you afraid of the dark?
Helen to Jo (after Peter leaves)
120 of 131
You know I am.
Jo (response)
121 of 131
You should try not to be.
Helen (response)
122 of 131
I do.
Jo (response)
123 of 131
And you're still afraid?
Helen (response)
124 of 131
Yes.
Jo (response)
125 of 131
Then you'll have to try a bit harder, won't you?
Helen (response)
126 of 131
It wouldn't be the first time I've been thrown out of my bed to make room for one of your ...
Jo to Helen
127 of 131
It'll look all right in the dark.
Helen
128 of 131
Yes, it's seen at its best, this room, in the dark.
Jo (response)
129 of 131
Everything is seen t its best in the dark - including me. I love it. Can't understand why you're so scared of it.
Helen (response)
130 of 131
I'm not frightened of the darkness outside It's the darkness inside houses I don't like.
Jo (response)
131 of 131

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

It's all I can afford.

Back

Helen about the flat

Card 3

Front

When you start earning you can start moaning.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

her immoral earnings

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

I don't owe you a thing.

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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