The Snake Pit (1948)

Olivia de Havilland: Virginia Stuart Cunningham

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Robert Cunningham : Tell me, what have you been doing all these months?

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Working 18 hours a day and being lonely 24.

• Virginia Stuart Cunningham : It was strange, here I was among all those people, and at the same time I felt as if I were looking at them from some place far away, the whole place seemed to me like a deep hole and the people down in it like strange animals, like... like snakes, and I've been thrown into it... yes... as though... as though I were in a snake pit...

  Doctor Mark Kik : A snake pit?

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Later, weeks later, I understood. I remembered once reading in a book that long ago they used to put insane people into pits full of snakes. I think they figured that something which might drive a normal person insane, might shock an insane person back into sanity. Did you ever hear of that?

  Doctor Mark Kik : Yes.

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Well, it was just as though they'd thrown me into a snake pit. And I was shocked into thinking that maybe I wasn't as sick as the others... and I really might get well.

• Virginia Stuart Cunningham : [sighs]  It's funny.

  Doctor Mark Kik : What is it?

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Everything you've said seems to make sense. I feel as though I know it,

  [places hand on her heart] 

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : here...

  Doctor Mark Kik : But you don't quite understand it all, here?

  [points, with his pipe, to his head] 

  Doctor Mark Kik : Don't worry, it doesn't matter. You may never know *why* everything happened, but now you do know *how* and *where* it started, and that *does* matter. Look, it's as though you were in a dark room, like this one...

  [turns off light switch] 

  Doctor Mark Kik : ... now. And you wanted to turn on the light. But, you couldn't, because you didn't know where the switch was. Now you *do*. You may never know *why* turning that switch makes the light go on, but you don't *have* to. As long as you know *where* it is, you don't ever have to be afraid being in the dark again. And that, I'm sure, you'll be able to do very soon.

• Mrs. Greer : Good afternoon, my dear. I don't think I've had the pleasure of seeing you here before.

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : I'm Virginia Cunningham. I came from Five.

  Mrs. Greer : Nobody comes to One from Five. Even I had to spend a few days in Two before coming here. And I, my dear, have money.

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : That must be convenient.

  Mrs. Greer : My husband, Mr. Greer, is very wealthy. I have more jewels than I can possibly wear. You, of course, are a charity patient?

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Oh, no. It so happens that my husband, Mr. Cunningham, is very wealthy. My diamonds simply weigh me down.

  Mrs. Greer : I have the Hope Diamond!

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : I have the Hopeless Emerald! It carries the Cunningham curse. You've probably read about it.

  Mrs. Greer : Mr. Greer...

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Your husband?

  Mrs. Greer : Mr. Greer, my husband, considered buying it, but it has a flaw. You see, you can't put an imperfect stone on the most beautiful hands in the world.

• Miss Greene : You get off the rug, Virginia Cunningham! Come on! Come on! Get off of there! I've told you a dozen times we do not walk on our rug.

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Why not?

  Miss Greene : Because we don't! Understand? We're the only ward that has a rug. It's new, I mean it's clean, and we mean to keep it that way.

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Why don't you hang it on the wall?

  Miss Greene : Your wisecracks might have been appreciated in other wards, but in 12 they don't go over.

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Is this 12?

  Miss Greene : And what did you think it was? One?

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : How long have I been here?

  Miss Greene : Too long.

• Celia Sommerville : And we're so crowded already. I just don't know where it's all gonna end!

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : I'll tell you where it's gonna end, Miss Somerville... When there are more sick ones than well ones, the sick ones will lock the well ones up.