3rd most-quoted character in The Lady from Shanghai (1947): in 6 of its 38 quotes
Most scenes with: Michael O'Hara (6)
Scenes with Elsa
6 scenes
Elsa Will you help me? Give me a cigarette? I'm learning to smoke now. Ever since that night in the park, I've been getting the habit.
Do all rich women play games like this?
Elsa [she draws near to kiss him]
Call me Rosalie.
Elsa [He slaps her] [She sticks the cigarette between her trembling lips and lights it. She draws a puff.]
I didn't think you would do that.
Elsa You're scared, aren't you? You're scared. I'm scared too.
You think you're needing me to help you. You're not that kind. If you need anything, you help yourself.
Elsa I'm not what you think I am. I just try to be like that.
Keep on trying. You might make it.
Elsa Oh, Michael, what are we scared of?
[They kiss]
Love. Do you believe in love at all, Mrs. Bannister?
Elsa I was taught to think about love in Chinese.
The way a Frenchman thinks about laughter in French?
Elsa The Chinese say, it is difficult for love to last long. Therefore, one who loves passionately is cured of love, in the end.
Sure, that's a hard way of thinking.
Elsa There's more to the proverb: Human nature is eternal. Therefore, one who follows his nature keeps his original nature, in the end.
Elsa He isn't really a steward...He's a detective, Michael. My husband hires him to watch me. He wants to fix it so I'll never be able to divorce him...I haven't a cent, Michael. He wants to cut me off without a cent.
Does that matter so much, I shouldn't think it would?
Elsa Oh, I told you, sweet, you don't know anything about the world.
Well lately, I've been rounding out my education.
Sure, I'm gonna take you where there aren't any spies.
Elsa Michael, where?
A long way off. Somewhere in the far places.
Elsa Far places? We're in one of them now. Anyway, it doesn't work. I tried it. Everything's bad, Michael, everything. You can't escape it or fight it. You've got to get along with it. Deal with it, make terms. You're such a foolish knight errant, Michael. You're big and strong, but you just don't know how to take care of yourself. So how could you take care of me?
Elsa Why don't you try and understand? George was supposed to take care of Arthur, but he lost his silly head and shot Broome. After that, I knew I couldn't trust him. He was mad. He had to be shot.
Elsa We could have gone off together.
Into the sunrise? You and me, or you and Grisby?
Elsa I love you.
One who follows his nature keeps his original nature in the end. But haven't you heard ever of something better to follow?
Elsa No.
Elsa [gasping, as she is dying]
He and George, and now me!
Like the sharks, mad with their own blood. Chewing away at their own selves.
Elsa It's true. I made a lot of mistakes.
You said the world's bad. We can't run away from the badness. And you're right there. But you said we can't fight it. We must deal with the badness, make terms. And then the badness'll deal with you, and make its own terms, in the end, surely.
Elsa You can fight, but what good is it? Goodbye.
Elsa No, we can't win. Give my love to the sunrise.
We can't lose, either. Only if we quit.
Elsa And you're not going to.
Elsa Oh Michael, I'm afraid. [He strolls away] Michael, come back here. Michael! Please! I don't want to die! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
Other characters in The Lady from Shanghai
