From Here to Eternity (1953)

Deborah Kerr: Karen Holmes

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Karen Holmes : You certainly chose a lovely spot for our meeting. I've had three chances to be picked up in the last five minutes.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Well, that's par for the course around here.

  Karen Holmes : Well, I don't care for it. I never went in much for back-alley loving.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Take it easy.

  Karen Holmes : You probably think I'm a tramp.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Now, what makes you think I'd think a thing like that?

• Karen Holmes : If you're looking for the captain, he isn't here.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : [eyes Karen coyly]  And if I'm not looking for him?

  Karen Holmes : He still isn't here.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Well, I'm looking for him.

• Karen Holmes : [at night, in swimsuits, on the beach]  I never knew it could be like this! Nobody ever kissed me the way you do.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Nobody?

  Karen Holmes : No, nobody.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Not even one? Out of all the men you've been kissed by?

  Karen Holmes : [giggling]  Now that'd take some figuring. How many men do you think there've been?

  Sergeant Milton Warden : I wouldn't know. Can't you give me a rough estimate?

  Karen Holmes : Not without an adding machine. Do you have the adding machine with you?

  Sergeant Milton Warden : I forgot to bring it.

  Karen Holmes : Then I guess you won't find out, will you.

• [Warden brings papers to Holmes' house for his signature, knowing that only his wife would be there] 

  Karen Holmes : Are these really important?

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Yes, but not important they get signed today. Tomorrow's okay.

  [She rips them up] 

  Sergeant Milton Warden : I have copies at the office, so it won't be much work to fix 'em up.

  Karen Holmes : That's what I like about you, Sergeant: you have confidence. It's also what I dislike about you.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : It's not confidence, ma'am; it's honesty. I just hate to see a beautiful woman going all to waste.

  Karen Holmes : Waste, did you say? There's a subject I might tell you something about. I know several kinds of waste, Sergeant. You're probably not even remotely aware of some of them. Would you like to hear? For instance, what about the house without a child? There's one sort for you. Then there's another... You're doing fine, Sergeant. My husband's off somewhere, and it's raining outside, and we're both drinking now. You've probably only got one thing wrong. The lady herself. The lady's not what she seems. She's a... washout, if you know what I mean... and I'm sure you know what I mean!

  Sergeant Milton Warden : You going to cry?

  Karen Holmes : Not if I can help it. What are you doing?

  Sergeant Milton Warden : I'm leaving. Isn't that what you want?

  Karen Holmes : I don't know, Sergeant. I don't know.

  [He kisses her] 

• Karen Holmes : Don't try to be gallant, Sergeant. If you think this is a mistake, come right out and say so... Well, I guess it's about time for me to be heading home, isn't it?... Well, isn't it?

  Sergeant Milton Warden : What's the matter? What started all this, anyway? You think I'd be here if I thought it was a mistake? Taking a chance on 20 years in Leavenworth for making dates with the company commander's wife? And her acting like - like Lady Astor's horse, and all because I got here on time!

  Karen Holmes : Well, on the other hand, I've got a bathing suit under my dress...

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Me too!

• Karen Holmes : Why don't you tell the truth, you just don't want the responsibility. You're probably not even in love with me.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : You're crazy! I wish I didn't love ya; maybe I can enjoy life again.

• Karen Holmes : Come back here, Sergeant. I'll tell you the story; you can take it back to the barracks with you. I'd only been married to Dana two years when I found out he was cheating. And by that time I was pregnant. I thought I had something to hope for. I was almost happy the night the pains began. I remember Dana was going to an officers' conference. I told him to get home early, to bring the doctor with him. And maybe he would have... if his "conference" hadn't been with a hat-check girl! He was drunk when he came in at 5 AM. I was lying on the floor. I begged him to go for the doctor, but he fell on the couch and passed out. The baby was born about an hour later. Of course it was dead. It was a boy. But they worked over me at the hospital, they fixed me up fine, they even took my appendix out - they threw that in free.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Karen...

  Karen Holmes : And one more thing: no more children. Sure I went out with men after that. And if I'd ever found one that...

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Karen, listen to me, listen.

  Karen Holmes : I know. Until I met you I didn't think it was possible either.

• Karen Holmes : [to Sgt. Warden standing outside her porch in the pouring rain]  Well, you'd better come inside... you'll get wet.

• Sergeant Milton Warden : I got some papers it's important for him to sign.

  Karen Holmes : I'll try phoning him at the club. Maybe he's there.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : Don't do that. I never like to disturb a man when he's drinking. I could use a drink myself. Aren't you gonna ask me in?

• Karen Holmes : The liquor's there, Sergeant, in the cabinet. You're taking an awful chance, you know. My maid is liable to be home any time.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : No, she won't. Thursday's her day off.

  Karen Holmes : You think of everything, don't you, Sergeant?

• Karen Holmes : What is it that makes you so efficient, Sergeant?

  Sergeant Milton Warden : I was born smart, ma'am.

  Karen Holmes : I love that.

• Karen Holmes : If you'd spend less time buttering generals and more time with your company, you'd get that promotion.

• Sergeant Milton Warden : Anything I can do for you?

  Karen Holmes : No, thanks.

  Sergeant Milton Warden : I'd be glad to help, ma'am.

• Karen Holmes : I have no right to inquire into your actions. That was our agreement.

  Captain Dana Holmes : Then why bring it up?

  Karen Holmes : Because I wanted you to know I'm not as stupid as you maintain all women are.

• Sergeant Milton Warden : Do you know where he is?

  Karen Holmes : I haven't the slightest idea. Perhaps he's "in town on business." That's the way you put it the other day, isn't it?

• Karen Holmes : I had a boyfriend. I was a waitress, and he was from the richest family in town. He just married a girl suitable for his position. After three years of going around with me. It's a pretty story, isn't it? Maybe they could write a book about it.

  Robert E. Lee "Prew' Prewitt : They did. Thousands of them.

• Karen Holmes : So they were married and lived unhappily ever after.