Algiers (1938)
Quotes
Inspector Slimane: When one can't use guns, one must work with brains.
Commissioner Janvier: I prefer guns!
Inspector Slimane: In your case, honest sir, such a preference is unavoidable.
Pepe le Moko: You're beautiful. That's easy to say. I know that other people have told you. But what I'm telling you is different, see? For to me you're more than that.
Gaby: It's late. I must go.
Pepe le Moko: Suppose you don't come tomorrow?
Gaby: Suppose I don't? Can't you ever get away from the Casbah?
Pepe le Moko: Why do you ask?
Gaby: Can't you?
Pepe le Moko: No. I'm caught here, like a bear in a hole. Dogs barking, hunters all around, no way out of it. Do you like that? Maybe it's lucky for you.
Gaby: I don't like it. And it's not lucky.
Pepe le Moko: You're right. If you don't come back, I might do anything. I might go down to your hotel to get you.
Gaby: Tomorrow, Pepe.
Pepe le Moko: Tomorrow?
Gaby: I never break a promise.
Gaby: If I can't see Paris when I open my eyes in the morning, I want to go right back to sleep.
Pepe le Moko: What did you do before?
Gaby: Before what?
Pepe le Moko: Before... the jewels.
Gaby: I wanted them.
Inspector Slimane: I'm sorry, Pepe. He thought you were going to escape.
Pepe le Moko: And so I have, my friend.
Pepe le Moko: Did you ever see a clock that pointed to two and struck four when it is really quarter-past-twelve? Well, your friend Regis is like that. He doesn't ring true.
Commissioner Janvier: By his looks, I'd say he was too lazy to make an arrest.
Inspector Slimane: I'm merely careful.
Commissioner Janvier: Which means to say that you're looking out for your own skin.
Inspector Slimane: It's the only skin I have.
Inspector Slimane: You're important now because you're free. Once you're behind bars, people forget all about you.
Pepe le Moko: You know what I like about you?
Inspector Slimane: No. But, I'm humbly waiting for you to tell me.
Pepe le Moko: Your face. It's a perfect face for your job. To look that false is almost the equivalent of being honest.
Opening Title Card: ALGIERS - Where blazing desert meets the blue Mediterranean, and modern Europe jostles ancient Africa. A stone's throw from the modern city, the native quarter, known as the *Casbah*, stands like a fortress above the sea. Its population includes many tribes and races, drifters and outcasts from all parts of the world - - and criminals who find this a safe hiding place from the long arm of the law.
[first lines]
Commissioner Janvier: I'm not interested in hearing excuses about local conditions. No doubt there are local conditions. Here's a criminal who's exploits have made him notorious throughout Europe. He escaped from France with a fortune in jewels and for two years he's been living here in Algiers, within a stone's throw of your headquarters.
Louvain: As you say, Commissioner.
Commissioner Janvier: I'm here to settle this - and I want it done quickly.
Louvain: We've been trying to settle the case of Pepe le Moko for two years.
Commissioner Janvier: In Paris, we handle more difficult cases every day.
Louvain: Too bad you didn't arrest him before he escaped from France. Merely an oversight, no doubt.
Commissioner Janvier: Do you deal in riddles here?
Louvain: In deed, we do. Oriental riddles.
Louvain: You've just arrived from Paris, Commissioner. You're not familiar with the Casbah.
Commissioner Janvier: Casbah? What's that? Some kind of nut?
Louvain: A very hard nut - to crack.
Louvain: Pepe le Moko lives in the Casbah.
Commissioner Janvier: Why not go in? Take him out?
Louvain: You can't arrest a King in his own Palace.
Louvain: As a civilized man, you don't like fantasy.
Commissioner Janvier: As a police officer, I don't believe in it.
Louvain: It's only a step from the modern city, the Casbah; but, when you take that step - you enter another world. A melting pot for all the sins of the earth.
Louvain: The Casbah rises like a fortress from the sea. Colorful, sordid, dangerous!
Inspector Slimane: To arrest him in the Casbah, distinguished colleague, would be simple. To get him out, would be impossible.
Pepe le Moko: No. Pearls don't suit you at all, Carlos. You're not the type.
Grandpere: He'd look better with rings in his ears.
Pepe le Moko: Yes and one in his nose.
Grandpere: He's definitely uncouth.
Pepe le Moko: You took the words out of my mouth.
Ines: Everyone knows how I feel about Pepe.
Pepe le Moko: Don't take so many chances. That's foolish. I don't want a bullet to come between us.
Ines: Why don't you believe me, Pepe? All I want is to please you. I couldn't lie to you.
Pepe le Moko: Couldn't you? What about all that time you kept telling me that you didn't like me?
Ines: But, this is serious.
Pepe le Moko: Ah, so? Love is not serious?
Pepe le Moko: That was nice of him.
Ines: That's what I thought.
Pepe le Moko: Is that all that you thought?
Ines: Was there anything else for me to think?
Pepe le Moko: [laughs] That's what I like about you.
Ines: What?
Pepe le Moko: Never mind.
Pepe le Moko: Hold out your hand.
[reveals a ring]
Pepe le Moko: Don't grab! It's unlucky.
Ines: Are you going to give it to me, Pepe?
Pepe le Moko: No. It's for some fat, old woman.
Ines: Let me have it, Pepe. Sometime, I'll get fat.
Commissioner Janvier: No evidence?
Louvain: Nothing! Are you satisfied?
Commissioner Janvier: I'm never satisfied!
Pepe le Moko: He's funny, my friend Slimane. He looks normal, doesn't he? But, he has delusions of grandeur. He thinks he can arrest me.
Inspector Slimane: Exactly what I'm going to do, Pepe.
Pepe le Moko: Sure. Sure-sure-sure-sure. How you make me laugh.
Regis: He's a bad boy; but, a good son. So, it isn't the good son that we'll lock up; but, the bad boy.
Inspector Slimane: How is Carlos?
Tania: How should he be?
Inspector Slimane: Don't tell me your charming husband has been beating you again?
Tania: You know how it is with a man.
Inspector Slimane: Well, I can't say I do.
Tania: They seem to take to it naturally.
Inspector Slimane: We had one rather unpleasant experience.
Pepe le Moko: Yeah?
Inspector Slimane: With you.
Pepe le Moko: She didn't think so.
Pepe le Moko: What did she say?
Inspector Slimane: Well, you know women. They talk about nothing. I hardly listen.
Inspector Slimane: Was there anything special about her?
Pepe le Moko: Yes. Pearls. The color I like. Handcuffs I can appreciate. Platinum and diamonds. And she didn't buy that perfume in Algiers.
Inspector Slimane: So, all you noticed was the jewels and perfume?
Pepe le Moko: Was there anything else?
Inspector Slimane: What about the eyes?
Pepe le Moko: Well, they all have eyes. But, all of that chichi and jingle - you don't see much of that in the Casbah.
Inspector Slimane: But you do where she comes from.
Grandpere: The moving finger writes - and having writ, moves on.
Gaby: That's my trouble. I'm such a fool. I go dreaming about the wrong things.
Marie: After all, you don't marry for fun. I didn't.
Andre Giraux: I don't like natives.
Gaby: Then, we'll go with Maxime. You'll protect us. Won't you Maxime?
Max: Oh! I'm at my best with natives.
Pepe le Moko: Doesn't it give you a headache to ask so many questions?
Ines: No. Why? Have you got a headache?
Pepe le Moko: Oh-no. I'm thinking.
Ines: Well, that's sure to give you a headache.
Pepe le Moko: I don't think with my head; but, with my heart.
Regis: Usually you hardly say hello to me and when you do, so, I don't expect it when you don't. I'm a little surprised when you do, because you don't usually.
Regis: It's possible - one can be brave without knowing it.
Pepe le Moko: Oh-la-la, la-la.
Pepe le Moko: So, you wanted to take another look at the strange, wild animal?
Gaby: Strange - but, not so very wild.
Pepe le Moko: How do you like my cage?
Gaby: I don't know - yet.
Pepe le Moko: [admiring Gaby's diamond bracelet] This is something.
Gaby: Isn't it. And it hardly weighs anything. Look.
Pepe le Moko: At least 20,000 francs, hmm?
Gaby: Add a zero.
Pepe le Moko: Oh, I mean, what I would get for it.
[Gaby laughs]
Pepe le Moko: Here, put it on again.
Gaby: You put it on.
Pepe le Moko: What are you laughing at?
Gaby: Nothing.
Pepe le Moko: Too bad.
Gaby: Too bad?
Pepe le Moko: Too bad I don't know you better.
Gaby: Why?
Pepe le Moko: Because, I would slap your face. When people laugh around me, I like to know why.
Gaby: I'll come back.
Pepe le Moko: When?
Gaby: As soon as I can.
Pepe le Moko: When?
Gaby: Tomorrow.
Pepe le Moko: How can I be sure?
Gaby: I never break a promise.
Gaby: Let me go.
Pepe le Moko: Why should I?
Gaby: Because I asked you.
Pepe le Moko: Say please.
Gaby: You're rude.
Pepe le Moko: Am I?
Ines: It's not what you deserve; it's what you want.
Pepe le Moko: Do you know what you are to me? Paris. That's you. Paris. With you, I escape. Follow me? The whole town. A Spring morning in Paris. You're lovely. You're marvelous. And you know what you remind me of? The subway. Close your eyes. Listen. Can you hear it?
Gaby: That's my heart beating.
Pepe le Moko: Does it go like a subway train?
Gaby: Faster.
Pepe le Moko: You're all silk and you jingle when you walk and with all that chichi you make me think of the subway. Isn't that funny?
Andre Giraux: You're going to be my wife!
Gaby: You don't make it a very pleasant propect.
Andre Giraux: I won't allow you to behave like this.
Gaby: I'm glad you told me.
Andre Giraux: What do you mean?
Gaby: We've got to be honest. Why do you think I'm marrying you? Look at yourself and then look at me.
Carlos: I'm going downtown.
Pepe le Moko: What for?
Carlos: I'm like you, I'm bored.
Pepe le Moko: Are you beating your wife?
Carlos: Just a little.
Tania: Poor Carlos.
Pepe le Moko: Oh-la-la, la-la-la-la. The same old story.
Tania: Well, life is like that.
Pepe le Moko: Yeah. And we're dumb enough to hang on, because, we don't want the story to end. Smart.
L'Arbi: Pepe, I'm ashamed of myself.
Pepe le Moko: What's new about that?
Ines: You can't do it, Pepe. You can't leave me. What have I done?
Pepe le Moko: There's nothing to do with you, Ines. You're a good pip; but, this can't be helped.
Pepe le Moko: It's not your fault.
Ines: I won't let you do it. I won't let you! You'll be killed.
Pepe le Moko: Then, blame it on the Casbah.
Inspector Slimane: So, you're the one to betray him. You couldn't wait to run to me. You call it love; but, it means you'd kill him before you'd let him go free. That's what you've done. As sure as if you'd held a gun in your hands.
Inspector Slimane: I thought I'd figured all of the moves. I miscalculated. I didn't think of you.
Pepe le Moko: [singing] Life is simple if you try, To enjoy before you die, Every bit of happiness along the way, Take the joy that comes to you, Celebrate what is new, With a song that keeps you dancing every day. C'est la vie, Fall in love and life is folly. That's right. You don't need money, If you've got a little honey in your arms...
Pepe le Moko: [singing] C'est la vie, That's the life we should be living: Kisses morning, noon and evening, That's the life that I've been living. C'est l'amour! C'est la vie, There is nothing like that feeling, Tell me what is more appealing, Than the feeling you're in love? Mais oui!
Andre Giraux: I was puzzled when you phoned.
Inspector Slimane: My mission is rather a delicate one. But, necessary. I merely wish to suggest that your fiancée is a little too fond of - shall we say, the local color of the Casbah.
Andre Giraux: What is all this?
Inspector Slimane: The Casbah's hardly the place for a woman alone. She attracts too much attention, excites too much desire.
Andre Giraux: Where are you going?
Gaby: A walk.
Andre Giraux: But where?
Gaby: On the Champs-Élysées.
Andre Giraux: May I ask you to give me a sensible answer.
Gaby: Then ask a sensible question. Where could I go? I don't know anyone in Algiers. I just walk straight ahead.
Andre Giraux: Straight ahead? And where does that take you?
Gaby: I'll know when I get there.
Gaby: Your hotel bores me. The Head Waiter looks like an undertaker. And every time I step into this apartment, it looks more like a funeral parlor. Goodbye, darling.
Andre Giraux: I know where you're going.
Gaby: Huh?
Andre Giraux: You're going to the Casbah!
Louvain: Seen from a bird's eye view, the Casbah is a great staircase. Each step is a terrace rising from the sea.
