Nights of Cabiria (1957)

François Périer: Oscar D'Onofrio

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Quotes 

• Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli : [in Italian]  What's the point? What am I doing with you? We're both wasting our time. And doing what? Anyway, what do you want from me?

  Oscar D'Onofrio : [in Italian]  If you want, I'll marry you. I wanted to ask you before. But I didn't have the courage. I've wanted to - to ask you since the first time I saw you.

  Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli : [in Italian]  What are you saying? Marry me? What are you saying? Marry someone you've seen ten times. That's not how it's done. Really! Thank God I'm an honest woman!vThat's not how it's done. Excuse-me. What do you know about me? Who I am? You ask me like that? I'm not fool! And you chose me!

  Oscar D'Onofrio : I've asked you no question. I don't want to know anything. Prejudices don't touch me. Because, what matters is that I know your inner self.

• Oscar D'Onofrio : I sympathize with you. I came to tell you how moved I was. We can all pretend to be cynical and scheming. But when we're faced with - purity and innocence - the cynical mask drops off and all that is best in us awakens.

• Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli : What did I do?

  Oscar D'Onofrio : You acted out a very tender and delicate love scene. I'm still deeply touched. I can't even express it. Yes, what struck me most is that deep inside, you're as pure as you were at 18.

• Oscar D'Onofrio : What happened tonight is extremely important to me. Just imagine, I'm not from around here, I just came by chance. I enjoy strolling in the city in sections that I don't know. I went into that music hall, without knowing why. There's no explanation for what happened. As if guided by fate. Yes, that's the word: fate!

• Oscar D'Onofrio : Do we say goodbye now, never to meet again? Impossible. I've got to see you again. The city is vast and we still have so much to say to each other.

• Oscar D'Onofrio : Loneliness is a heavy burden, but I'd rather be alone than make compromises.