The Sundowners (1960)

Glynis Johns: Mrs. Firth

Quotes 

• Mrs. Firth : Lord love a duck, a woman. Been waiting long? I've been having a bash at the piano. You should've come sooner, you would've heard me singing. I've got a voice like a foghorn, but I enjoy myself. I don't think life's worth living unless you enjoy yourself, eh?

• Mrs. Firth : Now then, what can I do to help?

  Ida Carmody : Well, we'd like a bath.

  Mrs. Firth : Too right, too right. Plenty of hot water. Now, who's going first? Or is it all in together, this cold weather? Now, follow me. Nothing like a good hot bath. Weakens the men and strengthens the women. Ought to be the other way around. Now, come on, Mrs. Carmody. I'll take you and sonny first.

• Mrs. Firth : My word, you are lucky, all this traveling. I've always wanted to travel. I came from Port Augusta for a week about 15 years ago, and I've never been back since.

  Rupert Venneker : Have they missed you?

  Mrs. Firth : Ain't he a joker? With a beard too. I bet that scratches the girls, eh, love?

• Mrs. Firth : There's nothing like a sing-song to get the dust out of your lungs.

• Paddy Carmody : Rupe, we'd like you to come to Queensland with us. Now, what do you say?

  Rupert Venneker : I say, you'll hate yourself in the morning. But I think I'll linger a while and investigate the possibilities of Cawndilla.

  Mrs. Firth : Paddy, do you think he means me?

• Rupert Venneker : Friends, Romans, shearers.

  Mrs. Firth : Hello, Sean. How did you like the play?

  Rupert Venneker : Oh, don't question him, madame. Don't waken him from his dream. He fell in love with the leading lady.

  Sean Carmody : Honest truth, give a bloke a go.

  Rupert Venneker : Oh, no shame in that. When I was your age, I was head over heels in love with Lillie Langtry.

  [to Mrs. Firth] 

  Rupert Venneker : And now, my mulga-scrub lily, I'm head over heels in love with you.

• Mrs. Firth : Serving beer on Sundays and running a gambling joint? I could get 12 months in jail and lose me license.

  Ida Carmody : Why don't you make them stop the game then?

  Mrs. Firth : Oh, let them have their fun. They don't get much, the men out here. They battle all their lives just to try and stay ahead of nature keeping this part of the country alive. And when they're dead, they're forgotten. Nobody thanks them. All they get is abuse. Getting drunk on Sunday and gambling may be against the law, but the law was made by city wowsers and they don't know nothing of what it takes to keep a man alive out here.

• Mrs. Firth : Fifteen years in a pub and I still prefer a good cuppa tea to a bottle of beer. Of course, I gotta get drunk now and then to set an example to the customers.