Red Desert Quotes

Giuliana: I feel my eyes tearing up. What should I do with my eyes? What should I watch?

Corrado Zeller: You ask what you should watch. I ask how I should live. It's the same thing.

Giuliana: [voiceover: Giuliana is recounting a fable to her son, as a depiction of the fable is shown on screen] There was a girl who lived on an island. Grownups bored her, and frightened her too. She didn't like kids her age. They all pretended to be grownup. So she was always alone, with the cormorants, seagulls, and wild rabbits.

Giuliana: [voiceover continues] She'd discovered a small beach far from town, with crystal-clear water and pink sand. She loved that spot. The colors of nature were so beautiful, and there was no noise. She'd leave only when the sun did too.

Giuliana: [voiceover continues] One morning, a sailing ship appeared. It wasn't like the usual boats that passed by. This was a real sailing ship, the kind that had braved stormy seas all over the world - and who knows, maybe even beyond. Seen from afar, it was a splendid sight. But up close, it took on a mysterious air. There was no one aboard. It paused for a few moments, then turned, and sailed off, as silently as it had come. She was used to people's strange ways, so she wasn't surprised.

Giuliana: [voiceover continues] But no sooner was she back on shore, when...

Corrado Zeller: Could you eat me too?

Giuliana: If I loved you.

Giuliana: Are you a leftist or a rightist?

Corrado Zeller: Why do you ask such a question? Are you interested in politics?

Giuliana: Good Lord, no. I was just wondering.

Corrado Zeller: It's like asking, "What do you believe in?" Those are big words, Giuliana, that calls for precise answers. Deep down... one doesn't really know what one believes in. One believes in humanity... in a certain sense. A little less in justice. A little more in progress. One believes in socialism... perhaps. What matters is to act as one thinks right - right for oneself and for others. In other words, with a clean conscience. Mine is at peace. Does that answer your question?

Giuliana: That's some bunch of words you strung together.

Linda, Max's Wife: Where's Augusto?

Mili: I dumped him.

Linda, Max's Wife: Since when?

Mili: I can't go to bed with a man who earns less than me.

Max: You two would be interested in our conversation. Didn't you tell me about that ointment...

Orlando: What ointment?

Max: The one some Africans use... to last longer. What was it again?

Orlando: Oh, that. It's nothing. Just some crocodile fat and pungent herbs that they smear on before they...

Mili: Smear on what?

Linda: Mili, don't play dumb.

Orlando: It works for hours.

Max: Hear that, Mili? It works for hours.

Mili: I don't believe it.

Corrado Zeller: It's true, it's true. You have no idea what men in other countries do. For example, in Jordan I saw men eat mutton fat and honey for breakfast.

Max: What about the Chinese? They eat ground rhinoceros horn.

Ugo: Dried shark fin is an energy booster too.

Max: I confess that I've tried royal jelly and it works. Right, LInda?

Giuliana: What's that?

Ugo: Honey from the queen bee.

Max: It's rejuvenating. Remember that in your old age, miss.

Corrado Zeller: Assuming she still wants to make love then.

Max: What do you say to that?

Iole: I'd rather do certain things than talk about them.

Mili: I hate him.

Linda: Who?

Mili: Your husband. He's like a vulture, always ready to swoop down on a factory in bankruptcy or a woman in distress. You'll see. He'll end up getting his way with me too.

Corrado Zeller: Your son?

Giuliana: No. No, he's fine. He doesn't need me. It's me who needs him.

Giuliana's son: Why is that smoke yellow?

Giuliana: Because it's poisonous.

Giuliana's son: You mean if a little birdie flies there, it'll die?

Giuliana: The little birdies know by now. They don't fly there anymore.

Giuliana: I didn't get better. I'll never get better... Never.

Corrado Zeller: You brood on your illness. But it's just an illness like any other. We all suffer from it a bit. In one way or another, we all need to get better.

Corrado Zeller: Where were you the day of Giuliana's accident?

Ugo: In London, why?

Corrado Zeller: Did you come back?

Ugo: No, they said there was no need, that I could - Did Giuliana complain about that?

Corrado Zeller: No, No, not at all.

Ugo: Then why do you ask?