A New Leaf (1971)

Elaine May: Henrietta Lowell

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Henrietta : Have you ever tasted Mogen-David extra-heavy malaga wine with soda water and lime juice?

• Henrietta Lowell : Did you hurt yourself?

  Henry Graham : No, kneeling on glass is my favorite pastime. It keeps me from slouching.

• Henrietta Lowell : They say if you don't scratch, it itches less.

  Henry Graham : Well, they're wrong. It only looks like it itches less because you're not scratching.

• Henry Graham : Tell me about yourself, Miss Lowell - your work, your hopes, your dreams.

  Henrietta Lowell : Well, I work as a teacher and I also do field work and write monographs. My hope is to discover a new variety of fern that has never been described or classified. I don't know what my dream is. Do you think it could be the same as my hope? Well, at any rate, that is my work and my hope except for my dream, which I'm not sure of.

• Henry Graham : A woman of your stature has the right to expect every courtesy in any home she consents to visit.

  Henrietta : What stature?

  Henry Graham : Oh come now, Ms. Lowell. I've read far too many botanical journals to take that question seriously.

  Henrietta : Are you a botanist?

  Henry Graham : No, just a botanical journal reader. Every science has its fans.

• Henrietta Lowell : Really, Andrew. I don't see why you take it for granted that the only reason someone would marry me is for my money. There may be some other basis, you know.

  Andy McPherson : Oh my God! Oh my God! Of course, Henrietta! Haven't I proposed to you these past ten years on whatever other basis there is?

• Henrietta : Henry, I'll always be able to depend on you, won't I? All the days of my life?

  Henry Graham : I'm afraid so.

• Henrietta : [said several times]  Heavens!

• Henry Graham : From now on, dear, I'll make the dinner.

  Henrietta : What will I do?

  Henry Graham : You'll eat.

• Henry Graham : Henrietta, for the last time, I have *no* inclination to teach. None. Not the slightest!

  Henrietta : How do you know, dear, if you've never tried?

  Henry Graham : Instinct!

• Henry Graham : Henrietta, where is your other arm?

  Henrietta : It's in the nightgown. It's a Grecian style nightgown. It, it fits over one shoulder, and the other one goes inside. It's very uncomfortable. I can barely move my head all the way around.

  Henry Graham : That's fine, I was... I just think you have your head in the arm hole.

• Henrietta : I'm sorry to be so much trouble.

  Henry Graham : That's all right... it's not for long.

• Henrietta : I, I'm sorry to be so much trouble, dear.

  Henry Graham : That's all right. It isn't for long.

• Henry Graham : Where is your head hole?

  Henrietta : Well, I thought my head was in it. Wait.

  Henry Graham : No. You had your head in the arm hole. Where are you now?

  Henrietta : I'm still where I was. Where...

  Henry Graham : Oh, just a minute. Oh, here. That's it. Here you are.