The Story of Three Loves (1953)

Kirk Douglas: Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium")

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Quotes 

• Nina Burkhardt : You were going to tell me what you wanted.

  Pierre Narval : Up to a few years ago I was an aerialist. You know, a trapeze artist. They said I was the best - better than the best. But I was unlucky. They said I took risks, but if you don't want to take risks, you can crawl along the ground, can't you, like a fly with its wings off? Up there on the bar you got to do something... something that nobody else can do, eh?

  Nina Burkhardt : I suppose so.

• Pierre Narval : I want you to be my partner.

  Nina Burkhardt : Me? But I've never... How do you know I could learn?

  Pierre Narval : I don't know. I have a hunch. You jumped on skis, and you jumped into the Seine.

  Nina Burkhardt : [She smiles]  And you offer me a better way to die?

  Pierre Narval : No, a better way to live.

• Pierre Narval : [Going out the door]  Good night, Rose.

  Rose : [Pleading]  Then have pity on me. I thought we were going to be so happy.

  Pierre Narval : Happy? With me? Look, Rose, find someone who isn't sick. The ground's covered with them, but I don't belong on the ground.

  [Leaves] 

• Legay (segment "Equilibrium") : You killed her.

  Rose (segment "Equilibrium") : You said it yourself, Pierre. You said it over and over again, that night, "I killed her."

  Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : [slams the table]  I did not kill her. - - It was an accident.

• Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : Back what it was in the old days, eh?

  Legay (segment "Equilibrium") : The old days are gone.

  Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : Maybe they'll come back.

• Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : Its the sort of job you got no time to think of your troubles. You got no past! Maybe you've got not future, but who cares. You live for the moment!

• Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : Look, I'm not out to kill you; myself, either. You'll be all right because you don't care for life. People get killed when the cling to life. They cling to the bar a split second too long. That girl I spoke of, she did all right, until she got worried about life. She fell in love.

  Nina Burkhardt (segment "Equilibrium") : With you? I shan't do that.

  Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : There's no room for that sort of thing. You've got to be free. Nerves right; timing right. The bar comes up to meet you. The hands are there to catch you. Well?

  Nina Burkhardt (segment "Equilibrium") : The hands that pulled me out of the Seine.

• Legay (segment "Equilibrium") : A little joke, eh.

  [sarcastically] 

  Legay (segment "Equilibrium") : Very funny.

  Rose (segment "Equilibrium") : A joke, but no smile.

  Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : A smile, but no joke.

• Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : [Regarding her attempted suicide]  Why did you do it?

  Nina Burkhardt (segment "Equilibrium") : I was finished too. I still am, but I'm still alive.

  Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : One can be that, I know. Are you going to try it again? Are you?

  Nina Burkhardt (segment "Equilibrium") : I haven't the strength to try again. I wish the war was still on. I wish someone would...

  Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium") : ...do it for you? Don't say that. That is something you must never say.