Julie: Amy, of course it's your right to go. You're his wife. But are you fit to go? Lovin' him isn't enough. If you gave him all your strength, would it be enough?
Amy Bradford Dillard: I'll make him live or die with him.
Julie: Amy, Amy, do you know the Creole word for fever powder, for food and water? How to talk to a sullen, overworked black boy and make him fear you and help you? Pres's life and yours will hang on things just like that, and you'll both surely die.
Amy Bradford Dillard: Then it will have to be that way.
Julie: It's not a question of provin' your love by layin' down your life for Pres. Nothin' so easy. Have you the knowledge and the human strength to fight for his life and for your own as one will have to fight? Amy, it's no longer you or me.
Amy Bradford Dillard: What do you mean?
Julie: I'll make him live, I will. Whatever you might do, I can do more, 'cause I know how to fight better than you. Amy, if you knew the horror of that place. It isn't a hospital. It's a desolate island haunted by death. They'll put Pres in an open shed with a hundred others. You must be there with him day and night, watchin' every breath he draws. You must bathe him, keep him clean, give him drugs, fight for his food and water. You must keep the livin' from him and the dead. Be there by him with your body between him and Death.

Julie: I'm askin' for the chance to prove I can be brave and strong and unselfish. Help me, Amy. Help me make myself clean again as you are clean. Let me prove myself worthy of the love I bear him.

Julie: Pres, I can't believe it's you here. I've dreamed about it so long. A lifetime... No, longer than that. I put on this white dress for you. To help me tell ya how humbly I ask you to forgive me.

Julie: Pres, why did you do it? Why, Pres?
Preston Dillard: Because I love her.
Julie: But you had my love.
Preston Dillard: And lost it.
Julie: Wasn't that memory more real than anything she had to give to you? Oh, don't be cross with me, Pres, just tell me. You must.
Preston Dillard: Please don't, Julie.
Julie: Shall I cry for ya? Nobody ever made me cry but you. And that was only twice. Do you remember?
Preston Dillard: Yes.
Julie: How much do you remember?
Preston Dillard: Everything you ever said or did. But that's passed now, Julie. Done, finished.

Julie: Why did you do it Prest?
Preston Dillard: Because I love her.
Julie: But you had my love.
Preston Dillard: And lost it.

Julie: Why did you do it? Why Pres?
Preston Dillard: Because I love her
Julie: But you had my love!
Preston Dillard: And lost it.
Julie: Wasn't that memory more real than anything she had to give to you?
[Preston walks away]
Julie: Don't be cross with me, Pres. Just tell me. You must!
Preston Dillard: Please don't, Julie!
Julie: Sha'll I cry for you? Nobody ever made me cry but you... And that was only twice! Do you remember?
Preston Dillard: Yes
Julie: How much do you remember?
Preston Dillard: Everything you ever said or did. But thats the past now. Done. Finished.
Julie: I 'ought to have came to you. I wanted to so terribly... I't was because I wanted to so much that i couldn't. You do understand that don't you Pres?
Preston Dillard: I didn't understand. I just knew what you did.
Julie: But you had to come back home didn't you? You had to come back to the country and the things you know... Because you belong here! Nothing can change that. Listen... Can you hear them? The night noises? The Mocking bird in the magnolia. See the moss hanging from the moonlight. You can fairly taste the night can't you? You're part of it Pres and it's part of you. Like I am. You cant get away from us Pres, we're both in your blood. This is the country you were born to, the country you know and trust. Your country Pres! Amy wouldn't understand. She'd think there'd be snakes...
Preston Dillard: Julie please!
Julie: It isn't tame not like the North. It's quick and dangerous, but you trust it! Like how the fever mist smells in the bottoms, rank and rotten but you trust that too. Because it's part of you. Just as I'm part of you and we'll never let you go!
[Julie kisses Preston, he pushes her away]
Julie: Pres you're afraid!
[Preston glares at her angrily and walks away]

Julie: Why, Pres. Bangin' on a lady's door. I'm scandalized at you. Well, did you come up here just to stand there?
Preston Dillard: Julie, how long must we go on like this?
Julie: Like what, Pres?
Preston Dillard: Fightin', fussin' all the time, like a couple of children.
Julie: Why do you treat me like a child?
Preston Dillard: Because you act like one. A spoiled one.
Julie: You used to say you liked me like that once. You never wanted me to change. Remember?
Preston Dillard: Julie.
Julie: [after he kisses her] Why, Pres. In a lady's bedroom. Now you'll have to marry me.
Preston Dillard: What do you figure I aim to do?
Julie: Then kiss me again.

Julie: Your wife?
Amy Bradford Dillard: And you're, may I say Julie?
Julie: Pres' wife? You're funnin'.
Preston Dillard: Hardly.
Julie: Married? My felicitations, Pres.

Aunt Belle: Child, you're out of your mind. You know you can't wear red to the Olympus Ball.
Julie Marsden: Can't I? I'm goin' to. This is 1852, dumplin'. 1852, not the Dark Ages.

Aunt Belle: Expecting a man to go to a dress makers with you! I declare i hope Pres doesn't come!
Julie: He will
Aunt Belle: But Julene!
Julie: Now dumplin' don't you fret about Pres I've been training him for years!
Aunt Belle: Like that man-killing horse you bought!
Julie: Pres was outrageous! He had no right to tell me what i could ride and what i couldnt!
Aunt Belle: The horse showed you what you couldn't! You broke your collar bone and your engagement!
Julie: And they both mended so i was right after all
[Smiles at Aunt Belle happily]