You are a man of obvious good taste in everything. How did you - I mean, why did you...?
Robie Why did I take up stealing?...To live better, to own things I couldn't afford, to acquire this good taste which you now enjoy and which I should be very reluctant to give up.
Oh, you mean you were frankly dishonest.
Robie I tried to be.
You know, I thought you'd have some defense, some tale of hardship - your mother ran off when you were young, your father beat you, or something.
Robie Naah, no. I was a member of an American trapeze act in the circus that traveled in Europe. It folded and I was stranded, so I put my agility to a more rewarding purpose.
You have no other defense.
Robie No. For what it's worth, I only stole from people who wouldn't go hungry...
I take it you were a sort of modern Robin Hood. I mean, you gave away most of the proceeds of your crimes.
Robie Kept everything myself. Well, let's face it, I was an out-and-out thief, like you.
Robie No, no, wait a minute. Have you ever taken an ashtray from a hotel or a towel?
Souvenirs, they expect that.
Robie You're given an expense allowance to pay for all the meals you eat on the job. Right? But this meal is free. Now, are you going to deduct the price of a lunch from your expense account? Well, of course you're not. It would be stupid. Do you agree?
Robie You're a thief. Only an amateur thief, of course, but it will help you to sympathize with us professionals.
Don't you think it's foolish to remain here without knowing what will happen to you? But if you were in South America with me, you will know exactly what will happen.
Robie You make it sound dangerous either way.
It would be so much nicer to be killed by love, no?
Robie Ah, pardon me while I get the water out of my ear.
John, you know what sort of men they are at Bretani's. Another robbery and they will do something to you.
Robie Well, I'd better get back.
[about Francie]
But what has she got more than me - except money, and you are getting plenty of that.
Robie Danielle, you are just a girl. She is a woman.
Why do you want to buy an old car if you can get a new one cheaper? It will run better and last longer.
Robie Well, it looks as if my old car just drove off.
No, it hasn't, it's just turned amphibious. I thought I'd come out and see what the big attraction was.
Robie Yes.
And possibly even rate an introduction.
Robie [to Danielle]
Oh, uh, you didn't tell me your name.
Robie Miss Foussard - Miss Stevens.
How do you do, Miss Foussard. Mr. Burns has told me so little about you.
Robie Well, we only met a couple of minutes ago.
That's right, only a few minutes ago.
Only a few minutes ago? And you talk like old friends. Ah well, that's warm, friendly France for you.
Robie [to Frances]
I was asking about renting some water-skis. Would you like me to teach you how to water ski?
Thank you, but I was women's champion at Sarasota, Florida last season.
Robie Well, it was just an idea.
Are you sure you were talking about water-skis? From where I sat, it looked as though you were conjugating some irregular verbs.
Robie Say something nice to her, Danielle.
She looks a lot older, up close.
Robie Ohhh -
To a mere child, anything over twenty might seem old.
A child? Shall we stand in shallower water and discuss that?
Enjoying yourself, Mr. Burns?
Robie Oh yes, it's very nice out here, with the sun and all.
Well, it's too much for me. I'll see you at the hotel.
Robie [laughing nervously]
I'll go with you.
But Mr. Burns, you didn't finish telling me why French women are more seductive than American women?
Robie I know what I'd like to tell you!
I've been waiting all day for you to mention that kiss I gave you last night.
Robie You know, back home in Oregon, we'd call you a headstrong girl.
Where in Oregon, the Rogue River?
Robie Where were you born?
In a taxi halfway between home and the hospital. I've lived in twenty-seven different towns and cities.
Robie Was somebody chasing you?
Robie Well, you can stop running now.
I had the funny feeling that all they wanted was to get their hands on my money.
Robie Oh, I'm impressed. Well, on second thought, back home in Oregon, we'd have called you a rich, headstrong girl. That would have made it all right.
Money handles most people.
Robie Do you honestly believe that?
Robie You're a singular girl.
Robie Oh, it's good, it's quite good. You know what you want. You go out after it and nothing stops you from getting it.
Robie Oh no, you're a jackpot of admirable character traits.
Robie Yes, I will say you do things with dispatch. No wasted preliminaries. Not only did I enjoy that kiss last night, I was awed by the efficiency behind it.
Well, I'm a great believer of getting down to essentials.
Robie What do you expect out of me?
Probably a lot more than you're willing to offer.
[about why she never wears jewelry]
I don't like cold things touching my skin.
Robie Why don't you invent some hot diamonds?
I'd rather spend my money on more tangible excitement.
Robie Tell me, what do you get a thrill out of most?
I'm still looking for that one...
Robie You are husband-hunting after all.
That wasn't jealousy you heard working, merely disappointment in your limited imagination. Teenaged French girls yet. Oh, I bet you snowed her under. The big handsome lumberman from America. I'll bet you told her all your trees were Sequoias.
Robie You know, that certainly sounds like jealousy to me. Don't be ashamed of it - let it out.
You're somewhat egotistical.
Robie Fighting fire with fire. Miss Stevens.
Robie You know what I think?
Robie You.
I don't really care... Tell me.
Robie You're an insecure, pampered woman accustomed to attracting men. But you're not quite sure whether they're attracted to you or to your money. You may never know.
Robie What you need is something I have neither the time nor the inclination to give you.
Oh, and just what is that?
Robie Two weeks with a good man at Niagara Falls.
If you really want to see fireworks, it's better with the lights out. [She turns off the lamps in the room one by one] I have a feeling that tonight, you're going to see one of the Riviera's most fascinating sights...I was talking about the fireworks.
Robie I never doubted it.
The way you looked at my necklace, I didn't know. You've been dying to say something about it all evening. Go ahead.
Robie Why, have I been staring at it?
No, you've been trying to avoid it.
Robie May I have a brandy?
Robie Do you care for one?
No. thank you. Some nights a person doesn't need to drink. Doesn't it make you nervous to be in the same room with thousands of dollars' worth of diamonds and unable to touch them?
Robie No.
Like an alcoholic outside of a bar on election day.
Robie [He laughs]
Wouldn't know the feeling.
All right. You've studied the layout, drawn your plans, worked out your timetable, put on your dark clothes with your crepe-soled shoes and your rope. Maybe your face blackened. And you're over the roofs in the darkness, down the side wall to the right apartment, and the window's locked. All that elation turned into frustration. What would you do?
Robie I'd go home, get a good night's sleep.
Oh, what would you do? [She steps into the darkness that hides only her face] The thrill is right there in front of you, but you can't quite get it - and the gems glistening on the other side of the window, and someone asleep, breathing heavily.
Robie I'd go home, get a good night's sleep.
Wouldn't you use a glass cutter, a brick, your fist - anything to get what you wanted? Knowing it was just there waiting for you?
Robie [He sips his brandy]
Oh, forget it.
Drinking dulls your senses.
Robie Yeah, and if I'm lucky, some of my hearing.
[She fondles her necklace]
Blue-white with just hairlike touches of platinum.
Robie You know, I have about the same interest in jewelry that I have in politics, horseracing, modern poetry, or women who need weird excitement: none.
Hold this necklace in your hand and tell me you're not John Robie, 'the Cat.' John, tell me something. You're going to rob that villa we cased this afternoon, aren't you? Oh, I suppose 'rob' is archaic. You'd say, 'knock over'?
Robie Oh -
Don't worry, I'm very good at secrets.
Robie Tell me, have you ever been on a psychiatrist's couch?
Don't change the subject. I know the perfect time to do it: Next week, the Sanfords are holding their annual gala. Everyone who counts will be there. I'll get you an invitation. It's an 18th-century costume affair. There will be thousands upon thousands of dollars' worth of the world's most elegant jewelry. Some of the guests will be staying for the weekend. We'll get all the information, and we'll do it together. What do you say?
Robie My only comment would be highly censorable.
[She sits alluringly on the couch, displaying both her necklace and bare decolletage]
Give up, John. Admit who you are. Even in this light, I can tell where your eyes are looking. [He sits down] Look, John. Hold them. Diamonds. Only thing in the world you can't resist. Then tell me you don't know what I'm talking about. [She kisses his fingers, one by one, then puts her necklace in the palm of his hand] Ever had a better offer in your whole life? One with everything?
Robie I've never had a crazier one.
Just as long as you're satisfied.
Robie You know as well as I do this necklace is imitation.
Well, I'm not. [They kiss]
[to Francie, about Robie]
He's a swindler and a real man. Not one of those milksops you generally take up with. Why do you think we moved so many times, hmm? Your father was a swindler, dear, but a loveable one. If you ask me, this one's a bigger operator on every level.
Robie Thank you, madam.
Mother, this is why I've had to spend half my life traveling around the world after you, to keep men like this away from you.
Well, after this, let me run my own interference. Looks like the blockers are having all the fun.
If she doesn't have any common sense, I do.
Oh, shut up! They were my baubles that were stolen. If I don't care, why should you? They're insured.
Let me do something to help you.
Robie Oh, no thanks. Now you've just made your apologies. Let's just go back to our mutual disregard of each other, hmm?
Mr. Robie. I was wrong about you, I think. You might possibly be wrong about me.
Robie Well now, that's another thing that I may never know. If you'll pardon me...[He turns to leave - and she grabs his arm]
I won't pardon you. I'm in love with you!
Robie That's a ridiculous thing to say.
Robie To you, words are just playthings.
[pouting]
Word playthings.
Robie I'll make you a sporting, exciting offer.
I don't know if I'm up to it now.
Oh, John, you left in such a hurry you almost ran.
Robie I had work to do up here.
Were you afraid to admit that you just can't do everything by yourself and that you needed the help of a good woman? And you just aren't the lone wolf you think you are.
Robie All right. Without you, I couldn't have done. I needed the help of a woman. I guess I'm not the lone wolf I thought I was, Francie.
Well, I just wanted to hear you say that. Thank you. [She extends her hand] Goodbye.
Robie Goodbye. [He pulls her arm toward him for an embrace and kiss]
[opening her eyes]
So this is where you live. Oh, Mother will love it up here!
