Ben Quote - Week Aug. 31 / She Walks in Beauty (again!)

[Pearson]

From: She Walks in Beauty
Fiercely protective of the son he knows too well...



Regan: You really love this land of yours, don't you Mr. Cartwright?

Ben: Yes. Of course, I'm rather prejudiced in favor of the Ponderosa.

Regan: Hoss is too. He often speaks of it as if it were a woman.

Ben: Yes. Yes, Hoss loves it very much. Of course Hoss always sees everything with uncomplicated, honest eyes.

Regan: How do you think he sees me?

Ben: As the woman he wants to marry.

Regan: And how do you see me, Mr. Cartwright?

Ben: Well that depends upon which Regan Miller I'm looking at.

Regan: Well, do you approve of this Regan Miller or do you prefer my sister's version?

Ben: I would guess that the way you are now is the version that most men would know you as.

Regan: I see Adam has informed you of my infamous past. Did he also tell you what happened this afternoon?

Ben: Yes.

Regan: Well I can imagine what interpretation he put on it.

Ben: That's not important. What is important is Hoss. His happiness.

Regan: You don't think I can provide that happiness?

Ben: No, frankly I don't. But my son, unlike perhaps most men that you've known, gives his love freely, openly, honestly, without reservation. And even the knowledge of your past couldn't shake it.

Regan: If he can forgive that, why can't you?

Ben: I suppose I could if I thought that you'd really changed.

Regan: But you don't believe that?

Ben: No.

Regan: Well it doesn't really matter what you think, does it? Or Adam? Because Hoss will marry me anyway.

Ben: Yes. Yes, Hoss would marry you anyway. But the love that would forgive your mistakes in the past would never forgive you those same mistakes in the future.

Regan: I won't make any mistakes.

Ben: Won't you? Just this afternoon, Hoss saw you kiss Adam.

Regan: But, Hoss understood.

Ben: Did he? When Adam came home, Hoss almost killed him. Now what do you think would happen if you made that same mistake again?