Harmony Lane (1935)

Douglass Montgomery: Stephen Foster

Quotes 

• Stephen Foster : [Finishes playing a song]  That's it. Now if I could only get a lyric.

  Susan Pentland : You might sell it?

  Stephen Foster : And if I did, I could buy you such lovely things. A parasol. Blue... to match your lavender dress.

  Susan Pentland : [laughs]  That would be nice.

  Stephen Foster : And all sorts of surprises. A little white cottage. The one that has always been waiting for you and for me. With hollyhocks... maybe some moonbeams... maybe fields of sunflowers that run all the way into the horizon.

  Susan Pentland : All that with just one song?

  Stephen Foster : I'd write some more. Then you and I could be together always. Would you like that?

  Susan Pentland : Yes, Stephen.

  Stephen Foster : Just you and I.

  Susan Pentland : [laughs]  And the piano.

  Stephen Foster : By all means, the piano.

  [They laugh] 

• Old Joe : Mr. Stephen, how come you waste so much time down with us poor folk?

  Stephen Foster : [Smiles]  Oh, I'm trying to steal a song out of your hearts.

  Old Joe : Well, maybe this old congregation of mine has got a song in their hearts 'cause they sure ain't got nothin' in their pocketbooks.

• Stephen Foster : [after he finishes playing Oh, Susannah]  Like it?

  Susan Pentland : It's lovely.

  Stephen Foster : What did you think, Professor?

  Professor Henry Kleber : That's all right. A nice little thing. But you can do better. Now, now, don't... please, don't misunderstand me. It's very good.

  Susan Pentland : It's wonderful!

  Professor Henry Kleber : Yes, not so hard to play as Mozart either.

  Stephen Foster : That's the idea. It's easy to pick up. It might become popular

  Professor Henry Kleber : Popular, yes. For a day, a month, a year maybe. But Steven, you've got music that didn't come out yet. Rhythmic emotion, pathos. That's what you want to cultivate. Maybe someday you'll write something that... that lives forever.

  Stephen Foster : Forever is a long time, Professor.

  Professor Henry Kleber : Well, we shall see what we shall see. Time will tell.

• Old Joe : Are you figuerin' on writing some more songs?

  Stephen Foster : Uh huh. Sometime I'm gonna write one about you.

  Old Joe : About me? Lordy, Lordy.

  [laughs] 

  Old Joe : Mr. Stephen, that would be most elegant. Yessir.

• Jane McDowell : Stephen, I don't mean to keep nagging you, but you haven't written a song in six months.

  Stephen Foster : But, dear... I... I'm

  Jane McDowell : You used to. I thought when we got a home you'd settle down, but you haven't.

  Stephen Foster : Well, I've tried. Heaven knows I've tried. Maybe that's the trouble.

  Jane McDowell : Stephen, I've given up everything for you. And for what. Nothing. All my clothes are out of style. I can't even go anyplace anymore. Other women don't have to save and scrape.

• Stephen Foster : Well, you don't seem very happy about my deal with Christy.

  Jane McDowell : I am. Why do you always have to tell everyone the news before me?

  Stephen Foster : Oh, Mother just happened to be here.

  Jane McDowell : That's just it. Someone always happens to be here. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of living in a house all cluttered up with relatives where I can't walk without tripping on a brother or a sister. I can't stand it any longer.

• Stephen Foster : Once upon a time you were supposed to be in love with me and now, well, you're Mrs. Robinson. Why did you do it, Susan? Why?

  Susan Pentland : You can't blame me very much, can you? We heard how you were behaving in Cincinnati.

  Stephen Foster : What did you hear?

  Susan Pentland : Well, I didn't expect you to give up your music. I wouldn't have wanted you to. There were all sorts of rumors and they hurt. I felt you didn't care enough for me to try. Oh, Stephen, why didn't you?

  Stephen Foster : Who told you I didn't?

  Susan Pentland : That can't possibly matter now.

  Stephen Foster : Was it Jane? Was it?

  Susan Pentland : Well, after all, she loved you too.

  Stephen Foster : And you believed her? You let me go on loving you and waiting. Oh, Susan. Why did you try to kill something that can never die? I needed you then. I need you now. I'll always need you.

• Stephen Foster : [Trying to control a drunken Christy]  Christy! It's Foster. Don't you recognize me?

  Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy : Stephen, my boy!

  Stephen Foster : Yeah!

  Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy : You have just witnessed the humiliation of a great artist. But even in defeat, Stephen, the great Christy always has a smile for his friend.

  [He smiles drunkenly] 

• Jane McDowell : Stephen, you've been drinking.

  Stephen Foster : Jane, will you please...

  Jane McDowell : Don't try and lie to me.

  Stephen Foster : I'm not in the habit of lying.

  Jane McDowell : In a drunken brawl with a common minstrel.

  Stephen Foster : I... oh...

  [Exasperated, he sits down] 

  Jane McDowell : I could have forgiven you anything. Your crazy moods, your eccentric habits, even your ridiculous songs, but I can't forgive you this. There's no use trying to go on any longer. This is the end and if you can't support Marion, I will. Stephen, I'm leaving you.

  Stephen Foster : Well, if that's the way you feel about it. I'm the one to leave. You and Marion ought to stay here.

  [He gets up to go] 

  Stephen Foster : And don't worry, I'll always send enough to take care of you both.

  Jane McDowell : Where are you going?

  Stephen Foster : I don't know.

• Professor Henry Kleber : You know when you came here you promised we'd work on a symphony together. Only one movement we've finished. And even now yet we've gotta crack it.

  Stephen Foster : You're right, Henry. But symphonies, oh, are a thing of the heart. The public pays for the trash.