La Bête Humaine (1938)

Simone Simon: Séverine Roubaud

Photos 

Quotes 

• Roubaud : You've often said how he used to terrify you when you were young.

  Séverine Roubaud : Terrify me? Don't exaggerate. All the other kids were scared of him, even his daughter. Whenever he'd show up everyone would run away. But I'd stand my ground. He'd smile and pat me on the cheek. I always got what I wanted and he never scolded me.

• Séverine Roubaud : Hello, Godfather.

  Grandmorin : Hello, Séverine. You've lost weight. It may be in style, but I'm not sure I approve.

• Séverine Roubaud : Look how hot I am!

• Roubaud : You act funny whenever Grandmorin's name comes up. Maybe you're scared people will think you're his daughter.

  Séverine Roubaud : His daughter?

  Roubaud : Your mother was a maid at the mansion. They all slept with him back then. We'd sure be in good if you were his daughter.

• Séverine Roubaud : Not here. We're not at home here. Let go of me!

  Roubaud : What's the matter with you today?

  Séverine Roubaud : You men are disgusting. That's all you think of. You're all the same.

• Roubaud : You were his mistress, weren't you?

  Séverine Roubaud : No!

  Roubaud : Tell me the truth, you slut!

• Séverine Roubaud : Let go of my hands. And stop looking at me like that. You'll hurt your eyes.

• Séverine Roubaud : It's not a lover I need, but a good friend who I could talk to about my troubles, my disappointments, my hopes. I need trust and tenderness and I can give them in return. But not love. No.

• Séverine Roubaud : Lison is such a funny name for a train.

  Jacques Lantier : You can't call someone you love by a number.

  Séverine Roubaud : May I get on?

  Jacques Lantier : You'll get all dirty.

  Séverine Roubaud : Who cares?

• Séverine Roubaud : So you're in love with a locomotive.

  Jacques Lantier : We've been through so much.

  Séverine Roubaud : Really?

  Jacques Lantier : Yes. On the line we see it all.

  Séverine Roubaud : Even when you're flying by.

  Jacques Lantier : Of course. You get to watch the changing seasons. The leaves uncurling in the spring and drifting to the ground in autumn. The rabbits in the fields with their little ears sticking up. They watch us go by. They know we'd never harm them.

  Séverine Roubaud : That's funny. When I travel, I never notice a thing.

  Jacques Lantier : Perhaps you don't know how to look.

• Séverine Roubaud : If you only knew how Roubaud treated me. He knocked me down and dragged me around by my hair, and then he beat me. Beat me. At one point he had his heel right in my face, ready to smash it in. I'll never forget it as long as I live. He's just a jealous monster.

• Séverine Roubaud : Is something wrong? Tell me.

  Jacques Lantier : It's all in my head. Waves of grief. I get so miserable I can't even speak.

• Séverine Roubaud : Yesterday he almost got crushed between two train cars. I was so close to being free. One morning you're fine and by the evening you're dead.

• Séverine Roubaud : There he is.

  Jacques Lantier : Where? I don't see him.

  Séverine Roubaud : He's coming around the shed. He's coming towards us. I see his shadow on the wall.

• Séverine Roubaud : I have nothing left to hope for with you. Tomorrow will be just like yesterday: the same grief and sorrow. It doesn't really matter. What happens, happens. All I can do is go on living my miserable life.

• Séverine Roubaud : Shall we dance?

  Jacques Lantier : No.

  Séverine Roubaud : Then I'll be going.

  Jacques Lantier : Why? There are others to dance. Like Dauvergne.

  Séverine Roubaud : No. Tonight I only want to dance with you.

• Séverine Roubaud : There's no way forward for us now. We should have stayed like we were in the beginning, when we loved each other but didn't pursue it. You remember those innocent walks we used to take?