The Long, Hot Summer (1958)
Joanne Woodward: Clara Varner
Photos
Quotes
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Clara : Mr. Quick, I am a human being. Do you know what that means? It means I set a price on myself: a high, high price. You may be surprised to know it, but I've got quite a lot to give. I've got things I've been saving up my whole life. Things like love and understanding and-and jokes and good times and good cooking. I'm prepared to be the Queen of Sheba for some lucky man, or at the very least the best wife that any man could hope for. Now, that's my human history and it's not going to be bought and sold and it's certainly not gonna be given away to any passin' stranger.
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Ben : Put them things down, Miss Clara, 'cause I'm gonna kiss you. I'm gonna show you how simple it is. You please me, and I'll please you.
[Attempts to kiss Clara, but she slaps him across the face]
Ben : [chuckles] Oh, I know what's troublin' you. It's all those boys hollerin' for Eula every night. And Eula with her hair hangin' down and Jody with his shirt off chasin' her. And your old man at 60 and he's callin' on his lady love.
[Bends down to kiss Clara, and she makes no resistance]
Clara : All right, you proved it. I'm human.
Ben : Yes, ma'am. You human, all right.
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Clara : Well don't throw in the towel yet, Agnes, dear. Those tranquilizers may see us through yet.
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Will Varner : Thousands of acres out there. Millions of seeds put down in the ground, and every year the seeds come up again. Life goes on. Where's my crop, huh? What follows me? What happens when I'm dead?
Clara : You'll probably have the biggest funeral in the state of Mississippi.
Will Varner : That don't scare me none, just so long as there are plenty of Varners to mourn me.
Clara : Jody and I'll be there.
Will Varner : You and Jody and Jody's kids and yours and their kids, my descendants, sister, a line, a long line with my face stamped on 'em, my blood flowing in their veins.
Clara : All of that from the two of us?
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Clara : You are barking up the wrong girl, Mr. Quick.
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Clara : I've spent my whole life around men who push and shove and shout and think they can make anything happen just by being aggressive. And I'm not anxious to have another one around the place.
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Clara : Barn burner!
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Will Varner : I was young myself once. I used to hide in the greenery and hoot and bellow.
Clara : I'll bet you did. I'll bet you stayed longest and yelled loudest.
Will Varner : Your mama listened.
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Auctioneer : This is gonna be about the most expensive chicken supper you ever had, boy, but worth every cent of it, considering the charming company you're gonna be eating it in. I, uh, I hope you're gonna give him dessert for that price, Clara.
Clara : He'll get his just desserts, all right.
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Ben : Well, that's all right. I'm a quiet-living man, myself.
Eula Varner : Oh, I only know one reason for living quiet; that's if you're too old to live any other way.
Ben : In other words, you two girls take your fun where you can find it.
Clara : Don't jump to conclusions, young man. We're giving you a ride and that's all.
Eula Varner : Where you headed?
Ben : I go as far as you go, ma'am.
Eula Varner : Oh, you sound as free as a bird. Doesn't he sound as free as a bird, Clara?
Ben : Well, Clara's wondering what kind of bird. Aren't you Clara?
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Agnes Stewart : Why aren't there enough men to go around?
Clara : There's no shortage. Just of the right kind.
Agnes Stewart : Ooh, I'm not fussy on that subject.
Clara : Neither am I.
