James 'Loop' Merritt: Now I've got a present for you. This isn't from Santa Claus. This is from me to you. This is a magic ring, see? Just like in the fairy tales. If ever you're in trouble, or if you ever want me to do anything for you, you send me this ring, and I'll come.
Shirley Blake: Oh, it's so pretty. Thank you, Loop.

Joy Smythe: Let's play hospital. I'll be the doctor, and you'll be the nurse. We'll get a big knife out of the kitchen and operate on your doll.
Shirley Blake: I don't want Mary Lou to be operated on.
Joy Smythe: I don't care. You have to play the way I want to.
Shirley Blake: I don't, either.
Joy Smythe: Yes, you do because this is my house and my yard and you're nothing but an old charity.
Shirley Blake: I am not!
Joy Smythe: Yes, you are because I heard my papa tell my mama so.

Joy Smythe: What are you gonna get for Christmas? I'm gonna get a pink dollhouse with real furniture and a real piano and a tennis racket and a great big doll.
Shirley Blake: I asked Santa Claus to bring me a doll.
Joy Smythe: There ain't any Santa Claus!
Shirley Blake: There is too!
Joy Smythe: There is not! My psychoanalyst told me there ain't any Santa Claus or fairies or giants or anything like that.
Shirley Blake: I'll bet you'd feel pretty bad tomorrow morning if you woke up and you didn't have any presents.
Joy Smythe: Well, I won't. Wanna know why? 'Cause I already peeked in the closet and saw 'em.
Shirley Blake: I don't care what you saw. There is a Santa Claus!
Joy Smythe: There ain't!
Shirley Blake: Mr. Smith, there is a Santa Claus, isn't there?
Uncle Ned Smith: What did she say?
Shirley Blake: She said there isn't.
Uncle Ned Smith: Then there is.

Anita Smythe: Higgins!
Higgins: Yes, madam?
Anita Smythe: My cousin Miss Martin is arriving from New York tomorrow. I want to be sure that everything is done just right.
Higgins: Yes, madam.
Anita Smythe: Thomas, you'll meet her plane in the morning.
Thomas, Chauffeur: Yes, madam.
Anita Smythe: I'm very anxious to show her that we can do things exactly as well out here as they do in the east.
Higgins: Yes, madam.
Anita Smythe: I want perfect meals and perfect service.
Higgins: Yes, madam.
Anita Smythe: And Mary, I hope you'll remember what I told you this morning about visitors.
Mary Blake: Yes, madam.

Anita Smythe: I don't approve of all these telephone calls, Mary.
Mary Blake: I'm sorry.
Anita Smythe: And I don't approve of all these aviators who keep coming here to see your little girl.
Mary Blake: She's sort of a pet with them. They all knew her father.
Anita Smythe: I know that, but I really can't have it. It isn't everyone who'd engage a maid with a small child. I have no fault to find with your work, but if you want to stay on with us, you'll have to correct these things.

Anita Smythe: You must practice your piano. You won't have to practice again until after Santa Claus comes.
Joy Smythe: There ain't any Santa Claus!
Anita Smythe: Don't say ain't, darling, say isn't.
Joy Smythe: Ain't, ain't, ain't!
J. Wellington Smythe: What's all this noise about?
Joy Smythe: Mama wants me to practice, and I don't wanna!
J. Wellington Smythe: You must do as your mother says.
Joy Smythe: No, I ain't gonna!
J. Wellington Smythe: Now, see here ...
Anita Smythe: Now, darling, remember what the psychoanalyst said. The child mind must never be coerced. One must use reason and persuasion. Now, dear, practice your piano and Mama will buy you something nice.
Joy Smythe: What?
Anita Smythe: Anything you like. What do you especially want?
Joy Smythe: A machine gun!

Uncle Ned Smith: Hey, where's your little girl?
Mary Blake: She's gone to a Christmas party.
Uncle Ned Smith: I don't believe in Christmas.
Mary Blake: You don't?
Uncle Ned Smith: It's all a lot of nonsense.
Mary Blake: Well, I don't feel that way about it.
Uncle Ned Smith: Here.
[handing her some money]
Uncle Ned Smith: Buy a Christmas present for Shirley from me. Christmas.
[scoffs]
Mary Blake: Well! What do you make of that?
Mrs. Elizabeth Higgins: He never fooled me. He's only tough on the outside. Inside, he's soft as mush.

Uncle Ned Smith: Now listen to me, you two. I want you to understand just one thing. If you ever expect to get anything out of me, you're going to be human enough and decent enough to take Shirley into this house to live. I'll pay for her board and her clothes.
J. Wellington Smythe: Why, Uncle Ned, that won't be necessary.
Anita Smythe: Well, naturally. We had no idea you felt this way about the child.
Uncle Ned Smith: Well, I do. If you don't want her here, I guess I can find some other place for her. And I guess I can find another place for me, too!

Uncle Ned Smith: We showed her, didn't we?
Shirley Blake: We sure did. Thanks, Mr. Smith. I like you.
Uncle Ned Smith: Then you're the only one around here that does. They don't like me, and I don't like them, either.

Uncle Ned Smith: You're that aviator, aren't you? Well, I don't like airplanes.
James 'Loop' Merritt: Well, I don't like wheelchairs.
Uncle Ned Smith: You stay in those airplanes long enough, and you'll end up in one! What's he doing here?
J. Wellington Smythe: You see, Uncle Ned, he thinks it would be a good idea for Shirley to go and live with him.
Uncle Ned Smith: What? He wants to take Shirley away? Are you married?
James 'Loop' Merritt: No, I'm not.
Uncle Ned Smith: How much do you make?
James 'Loop' Merritt: Enough to support myself.
Uncle Ned Smith: Where do you live?
James 'Loop' Merritt: At the airport.
Uncle Ned Smith: Where do you eat?
James 'Loop' Merritt: In restaurants.
Uncle Ned Smith: Well, you can't have her!
James 'Loop' Merritt: Oh yeah? Who says so?
Uncle Ned Smith: I say so!
James 'Loop' Merritt: I've got more right to her than you have!
Uncle Ned Smith: We'll see about that!