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Don Lope: [Consoling Tristana after she's had a bad dream] It's good to have dreams, even if they're frightening... The dead don't dream.
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Don Lope: Poor workers. Cheated and then beaten. Work is a curse, Saturno. Down with work that you have to do to survive. That work isn't honorable, as some say. All it does is fatten the exploiting swine. However, what you do for pleasure ennobles man. If only we could all work like that. Look at me, I'd rather be hanged than work! So, I live poorly, but I live without working.
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Tristana: I need something else.
Don Ambrosio: I've told you lots of times; get married.
Tristana: How can I marry him, if I can't stand the sight of him?
Don Ambrosio: You have to overcome that unhealthy passion. When he was really doing you harm, you accepted it without a word. And now, when he's behaving so well with you... What more can you ask for?
Tristana: The better he is, the less I love him.
Don Ambrosio: But that's irrational!
Tristana: Yes, I know that perfectly well.
Don Ambrosio: Be careful. There's something diabolical about that bitterness.
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Don Lope: After all, life isn't as dark as many believe. It's snowing heavily. But we're warm in here.
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Saturna: He's just like my late husband, may he burn in hell.
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Don Lope: We must protect the weak. The police represent strength. Men like me always defend the weak, whoever they are, whatever their situation. Never forget that, little one.
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Saturna: No one is better than Don Lope, but where there's a skirt, he has horns and a tail.
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Don Lope: When it comes to women and love, I've never seen any sin.
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Don Lope: When we meet with a woman, if she is consenting and if we can make her consent, then the encounter should be pleasant. But there are two exceptions: the wife of a friend and that strange flower, so rare, that is born from perfect innocence.
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Don Lope: Look at that couple. Don't you get the sickly scent of conjugal happiness?
Tristana: I don't understand.
Don Lope: Did you see that bovine look of resignation? That boredom? Farewell, love. Never get married, Tristana.
Tristana: One can be free and honorable.
Don Lope: Exactly. Passion must be free. It's a law of nature. No chains or signatures or blessings!
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Saturna: It's a pleasure to see how Don Lope cares for you.
Tristana: I wish he'd love me less.
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Don Lope: You've been warned. Don't forget I still have two obligations to you. I'm your father and your husband. One or other, as it suits me.
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Saturna: You were lucky! He didn't scold you.
Tristana: He certainly wanted to, but he didn't dare. What a sight. He's like a different man. The cock loses his feathers and doesn't crow anymore.
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Tristana: Be patient my love. Do you think I don't loathe my life as a slave? I want to be free, to work. I wasn't a bad pianist, but when my mother died... If I practiced a little, I could give classes. And you could paint. It would be wonderful.
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Tristana: I didn't study much, but I think I could do great things. However, I'm no good at little things.
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Don Lope: Tristana, I'm an old dog and I know that when a young woman goes out every day, it's because she's found a bone. I don't know what kind of bone it is, but don't deny it.
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Don Lope: You know you're not like the others. Let me do with you what I've done with no other woman.
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Don Lope: I'm her guardian.
Horacio: Guardian... She told me what kind of old pervert you are.
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Don Lope: Do you think I would go to my sister's burial, that parade of cassocks? I remember my childhood. She'll have died grieving, I was still alive and sinning.
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Tristana: Is your studio bigger than this?
Horacio: Twice as big. You can see the whole city from the terrace and the sunset from the bed. It's perfect for a couple.
Tristana: For lovers.
Horacio: I want you to be my wife.
Tristana: I'll live with you for as long as you love me. If you ever get tired of me, we'll each go our own way.
Horacio: You remind me of that scoundrel. You talk like him.
Tristana: The worst thing is, he's right about many things.
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Don Lope: Remember that I had to sell it all? I bought it back from the same Jew.
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Don Lope: I know Jesus was the first socialist, etc. So what? The true priests are those of us who defend the innocent, the enemies of injustice, hypocrisy and filthy lucre.
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Don Lope: Where are you going?
Tristana: To bed.
Don Lope: On a night like this, you're leaving me on my own?
Tristana: Really! It's incredible that you still have those illusions at your age.
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Don Lope: Where is God's grace going?
Muchacha: To find a sweetheart.
Don Lope: He's right here, dear.
Muchacha: So old?
Don Lope: Not that old! Don't bury me yet!
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Don Zenón: And the Ten Commandments?
Don Lope: I respect all of them, except those to do with sex, because I'm sure they were added to the truly divine ones by Moses for political reasons that don't affect me.
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Don Lope: It's true that there are no longer men of my kind. Of our kind.
Don Zenón: One thing that has not changed between yesterday and today. The taste for ladies.
Don Lope: I totally agree, but today there is so much effeminacy.
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Baker: Your marron glacés arrived. Would you like to take them?
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Don Lope: [Drunkenly] Tristana... Tristful Ana...
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Dr. Miquis: [the doctor cheerfully enters Tristana's room; Saturna and Don Lope are standing by] How is my favorite patient?
Saturna: Worse than ever, doctor.
Dr. Miquis: Leave me alone with her.
[Saturna and Don Lope leave the room]
Dr. Miquis: How are your spirits, Tristana?
Tristana: I had a temperature last night. I'm very ill, aren't I? Tell me the truth.
Dr. Miquis: [confidently] I've told you before that this is a common case. It's painful, but that will soon pass.
Tristana: A few days ago, I wanted to live. Now I'd rather die.
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Don Lope: [Saturna and Don Lope are downstairs, awaiting word from the doctor] She's in a very bad way.
Saturna: If you'd let me put on a poultice, she'd be feeling better.
Don Lope: Don't talk rubbish!
Dr. Miquis: [the doctor comes down from Tristana's room] My dear Don Lope, we are faced with what I feared. Tristana is very ill. We have to speak clearly.
Don Lope: Go ahead and tell me.
Dr. Miquis: She is suffering from blood poisoning. We have to operate... to amputate her leg.
Don Lope: The poor girl... She'll be horribly mutilated... When?
Dr. Miquis: We can't wait another day.
Don Lope: What science is this when the only cure is amputation! Find some other way... Cut off both my legs if you want!
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Don Lope: [after having been asked to judge a sword duel wherein both parties have decided that it will be to first blood, i.e., not to the death] Is that possible? To first blood? Do you think I'll agree to be judge of such a farce? I don't like circuses! I don't think honor is saved by a scratch on the skin. So much for those good-for-nothings and their conscience. Gentlemen, don't call on me again for matters of honor that have so little worth.
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Tristana: I've never been in the bell tower... There's a lovely view outside. You're very lucky. You must feel very important up here, like you ruled the world.
Campanero: No, you get used to it and don't even notice. And as for being important... not at all. We used to be important, but not now.
Tristana: Why not?
Campanero: In those days when there was a lot of religion, people timed things by the bells and they obeyed them. There was the dying knell, the death knell, the fire warning, the victory bells, the call to Mass, and the peel for devotions. People listened, they went to visit the dying, to bury the dead, or to get their firearms if there was an alert.
Campanero: [sighs] Times have changed. People are chasing after money, they don't listen. They even complain when we're ringing the bell for Mass, because they say we wake them.
Tristana Quotes
Extended Reading
