The Egyptian (1954)
Bella Darvi: Nefer
Photos
Quotes
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Nefer : No. I brought you here only to show you the gate in my garden wall. Later, when all of my guests have gone... I will be here by my lotus pool.
Sinuhe : Why do you tell me this?
Nefer : Perhaps because I am fond of gifts, and the greatest gift any man can bring to a woman is his innocence, which he can give only once.
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Nefer : Wait. Before you touch me I must give you a warning.
Sinuhe : Warning?
Nefer : There is a reason the Goddess of Love takes the form of a cat.
Sinuhe : When I look at you I care nothing for cats or gods.
Nefer : Look Sinuhe. A cat's paws are soft. But they hide claws. A cat takes pleasure in tormenting its victim. Not until the creature is nearly dead does it show pity... and put an end to it.
Sinuhe : What has this to do with you and me?
Nefer : You've had less experience, and I must be what I am. Leave now and do not return through the gate in my wall, or you may regret it all your life.
Sinuhe : I don't even know your name.
Nefer : In their foolishness, men gave me the name which means, beautiful.
Sinuhe : Nefer. Nefer. Nefer.
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Nefer : Have you ever looked on a woman before?
Sinuhe : Hundreds, and in the state the gods created them. I'm a physician.
Nefer : Your name?
Sinuhe : I am called Sinuhe. He who is alone. Is this your house?
Nefer : This is my house, and I have guests every evening. I dislike being alone.
[claps her hands to summon her servant]
Nefer : Baraka!
[she handles the pendant around Sinuhe's neck]
Nefer : The inscription of the new Pharoah.
Sinuhe : His gift. I must leave now.
Nefer : Why?
Sinuhe : Because men bring you rich presents for as little as a smile.
[indicating the pendant]
Sinuhe : This is all I have.
Nefer : I have never asked a man for anything, but I ask you to stay.
Sinuhe : I can't.
Nefer : Is it because we women of Babylon have a bad reputation? Or do you find me so ugly. Do you?
Sinuhe : You're beautiful, beyond all dreams.
Nefer : Such flattery must come easily to a man who's known... hundreds of women.
Sinuhe : No one before has ever seemed to me so beautiful, so strange. When I look in your eyes, I... feel...
Nefer : What do you feel, Sinuhe?
Sinuhe : I feel the fever of Thebes in my blood, and I know that I was born to live in the sunset of the world and that nothing matters, nothing, but what I see in your eyes. It's late, I must be leaving.
Nefer : If you go filled with wine and wild thoughts, you will surely get into trouble with some designing woman.
Sinuhe : Would you care?
[he follows as she goes into her garden]
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Sinuhe : The house and tomb are yours. From this hour I'm accursed and disgraced before gods and men. It's a high price to pay. Now prove to me that it's not too high.
Nefer : How should I prove it, Sinuhe?
Sinuhe : By keeping your promise.
Nefer : Promise? What did I promise?
Sinuhe : The perfection of love.
Nefer : I did? Sinuhe, as I've already told you, I find you very appealing. Are you quite sure that perfection is what you want?
Sinuhe : Yes.
Nefer : Then you shall have it. I will end your misery.
[to her servant]
Nefer : Show this man to the door and never admit him to my house again.
[to Sinuhe]
Nefer : Every philosopher knows that we spend our lives seeking perfection and find it only in an ending.
Sinuhe : Ending?
Nefer : Sooner or later even a cat tires of its game.