- Cassandra: But dreams are like a drug: the magic doesn't last and then the pain is worse than knives.
- Stephen Colley: [on being kept by an older woman] She takes care of me, you know. With clothes and that. Besides, I don't *mind* the other part of it. It's like acting in a movie.
- Cassandra: Only how do you know when you're acting and when you're not?
- Cassandra: Father. 'Jacob Wrestling' was a wonderful, groundbreaking book. There was never going to be a sequel overnight!
- James Mortmain: Meaning?
- Cassandra: Meaning, it will come!
- James Mortmain: How old are you?
- Cassandra: Seventeen.
- James Mortmain: And you still believe in fairy tales.
- Cassandra: I said I would never fall in love; I said love was a murderous thing; And it is, and I'm floating on air.
- Topaz Mortmain: He's been in London with her - Elspeth. They've had an assignation. At the British Museum!
- James Mortmain: Elspeth is my patroness! We were doing some research!
- Topaz Mortmain: [Scoffs] People use that place for nothing BUT assignations. I used to meet you there myself when I was married to Edwardo... in the mummy room!
- Thomas: Don't worry, Topaz. Rose is dabbling in the occult.
- Topaz Mortmain: Oh. Well, full marks for enterprise.
- Rose: Don't you see? Simon has to propose to me now, before he meets somebody else - or gets to know me better.
- Aubrey Fox-Cotton: Something is dampening your fire, Mrs. Mortmain.
- Mother: [under her breath] My fire dies when it is not required...
- [last lines]
- Cassandra: [narrating] Still, better all that hurt than to have known no pain... learnt nothing. There's only the last page left to write on. I'll fill it with words of just one syllable. I love. I have loved. I will love.
- James Mortmain: I am the head of this household. I'm entitled to respect!
- Cassandra: You aren't respected. You're indulged.
- Cassandra: Is that all you think you're worth?
- Topaz Mortmain: It's what I have to make my mark.
- Cassandra: You've made your mark with us! Thomas. And Rose. And me.
- Topaz Mortmain: But I'm not your mother.
- [first lines]
- Cassandra: [narrating] I have relived this particular day many times. The weather is always flawless, and so is Father's mood. It is a golden memory, and I am suspicious of it. I keep looking for one black cloud in the sky, for some premonition of what was to come, but I can't find anything. Not a single clue.