A scene from “Pilot”

Joan Crawford: She actually claimed she coined the term "Oscar." Can you believe that? Back when she nabbed the award for "Dangerous" in '35, she told the press that its posterior reminded her of her first husband's ass. His middle name was Oscar. No one ever called him that. It was just more of her bullshit. His name was Harmon. Everyone called him Ham.

Peter: Joanie, do you have to keep doing that?

Joan Crawford: [thinking he's talking about her nighttime routine] What? It keeps my elbows supple.

Peter: I wasn't talking about that. Do you realize from the time we got in the car tonight, all through dinner and now, all you've done is complain about Bette Davis?

Joan Crawford: Oh, that is not true.

Peter: It is. And I'll be honest, I don't understand it. You two have so much in common. More than any two other people on the planet. Why can't you just get along?

Joan Crawford: Don't you think I've tried? Back when she won that Oscar, I was the first person to send a congratulatory note and a bouquet. And you know that I never heard back. Not a word. Radio silence. And this after she tried to screw my boyfriend. Franchot was her co-star in that picture, you know.

Peter: Yes, you mentioned that at dinner.

Joan Crawford: She knew he was mine. That's why she tried to take him away. But he rejected her advances, of course. Told me everything. So then I married him, out of spite. Do you realize that Bette Davis is responsible for one of my failed marriages? Personally responsible.

Peter: And yet you still wanted her to do this picture with you. I think it's because you two survived all that and you realize that you really should be friends.

Joan Crawford: Friends? You think it's friendship I want from her? Is that what you think? You're wrong. It's respect. It's the only thing I have ever wanted from her. Or any of them, for that matter. And it's the one thing I've never gotten. It took me until "Mildred Pierce" to be taken seriously as an actress. And when I won my Oscar, do you think I received any congratulatory notes or bouquets?

Peter: No.

Joan Crawford: But I did. From men. Men whose admiration I already had and whose respect I never craved. But not the women. None of the bitches in this town. Least of all Queen Bitch, who always thought she was better than me, more talented than me.

Peter: You admire her.

Joan Crawford: I admire her talent and her craft. And I will have her respect. Even if I have to kill both of us to get it.