Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

Marilyn Nash: The Girl

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Quotes 

• Henri Verdoux : It's the approach of death that terrifies.

  The Girl : I suppose, if the unborn knew of the approach of life, they'd be just as terrified.

• Henri Verdoux : This is a ruthless world and one must be ruthless to cope with it.

  The Girl : That isn't true. It's a blundering world and a very sad one, yet a little kindness can make it beautiful.

• The Girl : Yet life is wonderful.

  Henri Verdoux : What's wonderful about it?

  The Girl : Everything. A spring morning, a summer's night, music, art, love...

• Henri Verdoux : [indicating her fancy, chauffeured automobile]  But you and, uh, all this, uh... What happened?

  The Girl : Oh, the old story: "From rags to riches." After I saw you, my luck changed. I met a munitions manufacturer.

  Henri Verdoux : Ah! That's the business *I* should have been in.

  The Girl : Yes. It'll be paying big dividends soon.

• The Girl : Well, if you must know, I'm just out of jail.

  Henri Verdoux : What were you in for?

  The Girl : What's the difference? "Larceny," they called it.

  Henri Verdoux : "Larceny"?

  The Girl : Petty larceny... Pawning a rented typewriter.

  Henri Verdoux : Dear, dear. Couldn't you do better than that? What did you get?

  The Girl : Three months.

  Henri Verdoux : So this is your first day out of jail?

  The Girl : Yes.

  Henri Verdoux : I see... Poor dear. Ah, well, nothing is permanent in this wicked world. Not even our troubles.

• Henri Verdoux : It's the approach of death that terrifies.

  The Girl : I suppose if the unborn knew of the approach of life, they'd be just as terrified.

• The Girl : It's nice seeing you again, You'll never realise what your kindness meant to me.

  Henri Verdoux : Kindness is a convenient thing at times, My dear.

• Henri Verdoux : Everyone needs love.

  The Girl : Something's happened. You seem to have lost your zest for bitterness.

  Henri Verdoux : Perhaps I have no more use for it since I've given up the fight.

  The Girl : There's always something to fight for.

• The Girl : You don't like women, do you?

  Henri Verdoux : On the contrary, I love women. But I don't admire them.

  The Girl : Why?

  Henri Verdoux : Women are of the earth. Realistic. Dominated by physical facts.

  The Girl : What nonsense!

  Henri Verdoux : Once a woman betrays a man, she despises him. In spite of his goodness and position, she will give him up for someone inferior. That someone is more, shall we say, "attractive."

  The Girl : How little you know about women!

  Henri Verdoux : [coyly]  You'd be surprised.

• The Girl : Must you know the reason for everything?

  Henri Verdoux : It might help a little if we did.

  The Girl : Life is beyond reason. That's why we must go on - if its only to fulfill your destiny.

  Henri Verdoux : [chuckles]  My destiny.

• Henri Verdoux : [quizzing The Girl on her marriage]  Tell me about him.

  The Girl : That's a long story. He was wounded in the war. A hopeless invalid.

  Henri Verdoux : An invalid?

  The Girl : That's why I loved him. He needed me, depended on me. He was like a child. But he was more than a child to me. He was a religion, my very breath. I'd have killed for him. No, love is something very real and deep. I know that. However...

  [reaches for the glass of wine] 

  Henri Verdoux : Pardon me, I believe there's a little cork in that wine.

• Henri Verdoux : Love?

  The Girl : There is such a thing. I was in love once.

  Henri Verdoux : You mean you were physically attracted by someone.

  The Girl : It was more than that.

  Henri Verdoux : I suppose women are capable of something more.

• The Girl : That isn't love.

  Henri Verdoux : What is love?

  The Girl : Giving, sacrificing. The same thing a mother feels for her child.

  Henri Verdoux : Did you love that way?

  The Girl : Yes.

  Henri Verdoux : Whom?

  The Girl : My husband.

  Henri Verdoux : [stunned]  You're married?

  The Girl : I was. He died while I was in jail.

  Henri Verdoux : [relieved]  I see.

• Henri Verdoux : You'd better go before your philosophy corrupts me. You can go out this way.

  The Girl : Good night and thank you.

• Henri Verdoux : [pressing some franc notes into her hand]  Come, it's very late and you're tired. Here, this will tide you over for a day or so. Good luck.

  The Girl : Thank you. Oh, this is too much!

  Henri Verdoux : [he fetches her coat as she breaks down weeping over his generosity] 

  The Girl : Silly carrying on this way. I was beginning to lose faith in everything. Then this happens and you want to believe all over again.

• The Girl : However, tell me about yourself!

  Henri Verdoux : I much prefer to talk about something pleasant.

• Henri Verdoux : What book is that you're reading?

  The Girl : Schopenhauer.

  Henri Verdoux : Do you like him?

  The Girl : So so.

  Henri Verdoux : Have you read his treatise on suicide?

  The Girl : Wouldn't interest me.

  Henri Verdoux : Not if the end could be simple? Say, for instance, you went to sleep, and without any thought of death there was a sudden stoppage. Wouldn't you prefer it to this drab existence?

  The Girl : I wonder.

• Henri Verdoux : Now tell me the truth: you're just out of hospital or a jail. Which is it?

  The Girl : What do you want to know for?

  Henri Verdoux : Because I want to help you.

  The Girl : Philanthropist, huh?

  Henri Verdoux : Precisely. And I ask nothing in return.

  The Girl : [dismissively]  What is this, the Salvation Army?

  Henri Verdoux : [shrugs]  Very well, if that's the way you feel, you're at liberty to go on your way.

• Henri Verdoux : Ah, you're tired. So immediately after supper I shall take you to your hotel.

  The Girl : You're very kind. I don't understand why you're doing all this for me.

  Henri Verdoux : Why not? Is a little kindness such a rare thing?

  The Girl : I was beginning to think it was.

• Henri Verdoux : [removing her overcoat]  What's that?

  The Girl : [revealing what was under the coat]  Kitten. Poor little thing. I picked it up in the doorway.

  Henri Verdoux : You like cats, huh?

  The Girl : Not particularly, but it was all wet and cold. I don't suppose you have a little milk you could give it?

  Henri Verdoux : On the contrary, I have. You see, the prospects are not as gloomy as you think.

• The Girl : Do I sound that pessimistic?

  Henri Verdoux : You do, but I don't think you are.

  The Girl : Why?

  Henri Verdoux : To be out on a night like this, you're an optimist.

  The Girl : An optimist? I'm anything but that.

  Henri Verdoux : Up against it, eh?