Tondelayo Quotes in White Cargo (1942)

Tondelayo: Tondelayo make tiffin.

Tondelayo: [entering for the first time, seductively] I am Tondelayo.

Tondelayo: Did Awila no want to palaver?

Mr. Langford: No. It's too hot. I'm tired.

Tondelayo: [Slipping unexpectedly into Langford's bungalow, after months away] How do you do, awyla?

Mr. Langford: [surprised to see her] Where have you been all these months?

Tondelayo: Mission at Lagos. All pray, pray, and cook, cook! Tondelayo remember much, awyla.

Mr. Langford: Why do you call me 'awyla'?

Tondelayo: Awyla is Ibio for "my man".

Mr. Langford: Don't you ever think of anything but jewelry? You've got enough junk now to open a shop.

Tondelayo: Just the same. You say you buy me much silk and many bangles.

Mr. Langford: Well, haven't I?

Tondelayo: Sure... but Tondelayo want more.

Mr. Langford: Tondelayo *always* wants more.

Tondelayo: Tondelayo must be very proud. She's "Mrs. Langford". She must have more things than anybody else!

Tondelayo: Awyla make me sick! Always it is too hot! All time we do nothing. Awyla just sit and sit and not give hang about anything!

Mr. Langford: What am I supposed to do? Sing and dance? Be a clown?

Tondelayo: I married to you five months, and you not beat me once.

Mr. Langford: Don't be ridiculous!

Tondelayo: Awyla, please beat me. Then maybe you feel much better. Soon we make up. Much love. Many bangles.

Mr. Langford: Look, in a few weeks the "Queen" will be in. I've ordered you a lot of silks, and a parasol, and goodness knows what. Maybe they'll amuse you for a few days.

Mr. Langford: I don't know what this is about, but, don't be scared.

Tondelayo: Witzel, no beat Tondelayo, eh?

Mr. Langford: Of course he won't.

Mr. Harry Witzel: Keep out of this, will you. This young fool isn't under your tricks. You'll get no silks and bangles from him because they're going to throw you out of this district, right now. And if you show your nose in here again, I'll cut my initials across your back.

Mr. Langford: You know you're very pretty.

Tondelayo: I know.

Mr. Langford: Soon, I'll send you to the Sisters of Lagos.

Tondelayo: The Sisters of Lagos make me sick! I am Mrs. Langford! You cannot make me cook and pray, anymore!

Tondelayo: Him watch Tandelayo play.

Mr. Langford: Oh, he does?

Tondelayo: Him always near river when Tandelayo swim.

Mr. Langford: Keep away from Witzel!

Tondelayo: Why you no ever come see me?

Mr. Harry Witzel: For the same reason I don't tread on snakes.

Tondelayo: Tondelayo no native. Tondelayo Mrs. Langford! Tondelayo wish plenty much she wasn't.

Mr. Harry Witzel: You're stuck with that poor sap and you can't wiggle out of it. Poetic justice.

Tondelayo: Tondelayo must always stay? No matter what she wants?

Mr. Harry Witzel: No matter wants she wants! It isn't a matter of silks and bangles anymore now. You're married and there isn't a man anywhere along this coast who will ever give you a tumble. Remember what the Padre said at the ceremony?

Tondelayo: Him talk all the time.

Mr. Harry Witzel: I join you two in holy matrimony, 'till death do you part. That means that you're his property for as long as he lives.