Rita Hayworth: Elsa Bannister

The Lady from Shanghai

Elsa Bannister

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: I was taught to think about love in Chinese.
Michael O'Hara: The way a Frenchman thinks about laughter in French?
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: The Chinese say, it is difficult for love to last long; therefore, one who loves passionately is cured of love - in the end.
Michael O'Hara: Well, that's a hard way of thinkin'.
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: There's more to the proverb. Human nature is eternal; therefore, one who follows his nature, keeps his original nature - in the end.

Michael O'Hara: "One who follows his nature keeps his original nature in the end." But, haven't you heard ever of somethin' better to follow?
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: No.

Michael O'Hara: Like the sharks, mad with their own blood, chewin' away at their own selves.
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: It's true. I made a lot of mistakes.

Michael O'Hara: You were smart to carry a gun traveling alone in the park, but I knew you had the gun in your bag. Why throw away the bag?
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: I meant you to find it. I don't know how to shoot.
Michael O'Hara: It's easy, you just pull the trigger.

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: Tell me, Michael. Is there some reason the police don't like you?
Michael O'Hara: Well, they never put me in jail in America. You know, the nicest jails in the world are in Australia, the worst in Spain.
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: What law did you break in Spain?
Michael O'Hara: I killed a man.
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: Just now, you almost killed a girl.
Michael O'Hara: Is there a law against that?

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: If you're a sailor, Michael, there's a job for you. Would you like to work for me? I'd like it.
Michael O'Hara: I'm shippin' out tomorrow.
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: So are we! To the West Coast, by way of the canal. We're short a man on the crew. I'll make it worth your while.

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: Will you help me? Give me a cigarette. I'm learning to smoke now.

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: [singing] Please don't hold me, But if you hold me, Don't take your arms, Away, Comes a change in weather, Comes a change of heart, And who knows when the rain, Will start?

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: I haven't a cent, Michael. He wants to cut me off without a cent.
Michael O'Hara: Does that matter so much as if he would?
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: Oh, I told you sweet, you don't know anything about the world.
Michael O'Hara: Well, lately I've been roundin' out my education.

Arthur Bannister: I don't mind a bit if Michael's in love with my wife. He's young. She's young. He's strong. She's beautiful.
[Elsa gets up to leave]
Arthur Bannister: Come on, darling, where's your sense of humor?
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: I don't have to listen to you talk like that.
Arthur Bannister: Oh, yes, you do, lover.

Arthur Bannister: Why doesn't Michael want to work for us?
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: Why should he? Why should anyone want to live around us?
Arthur Bannister: Where's his sense of adventure?

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: Everything is bad, Michael. Everything. You can't escape it or fight it. You've got to get along with it! Deal with it. Make terms.

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: I don't care where it is, Michael. Just take me there. Take me, quick. Take me!

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: There's more to it than that, Michael. I don't know what; but, there's more. It's a trap of some kind.

Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: Oh, Michael, why did you let yourself get dragged into it?
Michael O'Hara: Sure, because I'm a fool. A deliberate intention, a fool. That's the worst kind. Or, did you know?
Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: Yes, my beloved. My beloved fool. I know.