Imitation of Life (1934)
Claudette Colbert: Beatrice Pullman
Photos
Quotes
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Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : Don't you want your own house?
Delilah Johnson : No. How am I to take care of you and Miss Jessie if I aint here?
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Jessie at 8 : Let's go.
Peola at 10 : Let's do it over again.
Jessie at 8 : All right. England?
Peola at 10 : London.
Jessie at 8 : France?
Peola at 10 : Paris.
Jessie at 8 : Italy?
Peola at 10 : Don't tell me now. Rome.
Jessie at 8 : Now you ask me.
Peola at 10 : Germany?
Jessie at 8 : Berlin.
Peola at 10 : Denmark?
Jessie at 8 : Don't tell me now. Copenhagen.
Peola at 10 : Belgium?
Jessie at 8 : Sprouts?
Peola at 10 : You mean Brussels.
Jessie at 8 : Oh, yeah.
Peola at 10 : First thing you know, you're going to get a D again.
Jessie at 8 : Good-bye, Mommy.
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : Good-bye, honey.
Delilah Johnson : They sure likes each other, them two.
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : Peola's smarter than Jessie.
Delilah Johnson : Yes'm. We all starts out that way; we don't get dumb till later on.
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : Oh, Delilah.
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Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : I've got Jessie... and you've got Peola.
Delilah Johnson : Yes'm. I've got Peola, Miss Bea. What am I gonna' do about that poor child? She's so unhappy.
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : You know, Delilah, I've been wondering, if it might be better if you could send Peola to one of those good colleges in the South - for colored people. Where she could finish her education, and where she wouldn't be faced with the problem of "white" all the time. You know what a disaster her schooling has been here.
Delilah Johnson : Yes'm...
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Delilah Johnson : [running after her daughter, who is crying] Peola? Peola! What's the matter, honey? What's happened?... Peola. What's happened to my baby?
Peola at 10 : I'm not black! I'm not black! I won't be black!
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : Peola.
Peola at 10 : She called me black. Jessie called me that.
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : Jessie! Jessie Pullman, for shame on you.
Delilah Johnson : Come and sit down on Mammy's lap. Aw, that's a girl.
[making sushing sounds to Peola]
Delilah Johnson : Now, now, now, Peola. Calm yourself, baby. You gotta learn to take it. You might just as well begin now.
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : [to Jessie] You apologize to Peola this minute.
Delilah Johnson : No, no, Miss Bea. Don't make her apologize. Ain't no good in that.
Peola at 10 : [still crying] You! It's 'cause you're black. You make me black. I won't. I won't. I won't be black.
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : Jessie, how could you say such a mean, cruel thing to Peola?
Funeral Spectator : [shaking her head] I didn't mean anything.
Delilah Johnson : Oh, it ain't her fault, Miss Bea. It ain't your'n, and it ain't mine. I don't know rightly where the blame lies. It can't be our Lord's. It's got me puzzled.
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Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : I've got Jessie - that's enough. Delilah, honestly now, doesn't she look like an angel?
Delilah Johnson : Why, she *am* an angel, Miss Bea!
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Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman : Oh Delilah, you're hopeless.
