La Strada

The Fool:
What a funny face! Are you a woman, really? Or an artichoke?

The Fool:
Maybe he loves you?

Gelsomina:
Me?

The Fool:
Why not? He is like dogs. A dog looks at you, wants to talk, and only barks.

The Fool:
I am ignorant, but I read books. You won't believe it, everything is useful... this pebble for instance.

Gelsomina:
Which one?

The Fool:
Anyone. It is useful.

Gelsomina:
What for?

The Fool:
For... I don't know. If I knew I'd be the Almighty, who knows all. When you are born and when you die... Who knows? I don't know for what this pebble is useful but it must be useful. For if its useless, everything is useless. So are the stars!

The Fool:
What a funny face! Are you a woman, really? Or an artichoke?

The Fool:
Maybe he loves you?

Gelsomina:
Me?

The Fool:
Why not? He is like dogs. A dog looks at you, wants to talk, and only barks.

The Fool:
I am ignorant, but I read books. You won't believe it, everything is useful... this pebble for instance.

Gelsomina:
Which one?

The Fool:
Anyone. It is useful.

Gelsomina:
What for?

The Fool:
For... I don't know. If I knew I'd be the Almighty, who knows all. When you are born and when you die... Who knows? I don't know for what this pebble is useful but it must be useful. For if its useless, everything is useless. So are the stars!

Gelsomina:
The Fool is hurt.

Zampan?:
[reciting his act by rote before a crowd] Here we have a piece of chain that is a quarter of an inch thick. It is made of crude iron, stronger than steel. With the simple expansion of my pectoral muscles, or chest, that is, I'll break the hook. [collecting money from the crowd] Thank you, thank you. Now, to do this feat, I must fill myself up like a tire. If a blood vessel should break, I would spit blood. For instance, in Milan a man weighing 240 pounds lost his eyesight doing this trick. That is because the optical nerves take a beating, and once you lose your eyes, you are finished. If there's any delicate person in the audience, I would advise him to look away 'cause there could be blood. [with seemingly great effort, he breaks the chain]

FREEDOMS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

Gelsomina:
Where are you from?

Zampanò:
My hometown.

Gelsomina:
You don't talk like us. Where were you born?

Zampanò:
My father's house.

Gelsomina:
You're one of those men who runs around with women.

Zampanò:
What?

Gelsomina:
Who runs around with women.

Zampanò:
If you want to stay with me, you've got to learn one thing - to keep your mouth shut!

The Fool:
Maybe he likes you?

Gelsomina:
Zampanò... likes me?

The Fool:
Why not? He's like a dog. Ever see those dogs who look like they want to speak, but all they do is bark?

Nun:
Do you like traveling from one place to the next all the time?

Gelsomina:
That's how his work is.

Nun:
We travel around too. We change convents every two years. This is my second.

Gelsomina:
Why?

Nun:
So we don't get too attached to the things of this world. You grow fond of where you live, even of a a plant. You risk forgetting your most important attachment, which is to God. So you see, we both travel. You follow your husband and I follow mine.

Zampanò:
Get in.

Prostitute:
Is this piece of junk your car?

Zampanò:
Don't you like it?

Prostitute:
Are you crazy?

Zampanò:
It's American. Hasn't broken down once in seven years.

Prostitute:
What line of work are you in?

Zampanò:
I'm a traveling artist. This is my sidekick. I taught her everything. When I took her on, she couldn't even quack.

Zampanò:
You always eat standing up like a horse?

Widow:
I always eat on my feet. Who's going to keep the house going if not me?

Zampanò:
Why don't you remarry?

Widow:
What? Another husband? I'm the only one who gives orders around here.

Zampanò:
Is that all a husband is good for? Giving orders?

Widow:
Think I'm not made of flesh and blood? Everybody likes sweets after a good meal.

Gelsomina:
Quiet flame, bright flame, quiet flame, night cries.

Gelsomina:
Do you remember how beautiful it was, Zampanò? Watching the rain from the window that day?

Zampanò:
Come here. There should be something here to fit you. I want you to look elegant. I don't want to see you in rags. My women have always looked smart.

Zampanò:
Do only what I tell you to.

The Fool:
What if I asked you to come with me? I'll teach you to walk the tightrope, way up in the air, with all the lights on you. I have a car. We'd be traveling all the time. We'd have a world of fun. Would you like that? But no. "Nothing." You have to stay with Zampanò and perform his ridiculous stunts and let him beat you like a donkey. Such is life.

Gelsomina'S Mother:
She's not like Rosa. But she's a good girl, poor thing. She'll do what she's told. She just came out a little strange. But, if she eats every day, maybe she'll get better.

Gelsomina'S Mother:
You want to go with Zampanò and take Rosa's place? He'll teach you a trade. You'll earn some money. And one less mouth to feed around here wouldn't be bad.

Gelsomina'S Mother:
Gelsomina, Zampanò's a good man. He'll treat you well. You'll travel the world. You'll sing and dance. And look what he gave me: 10,000 lire! I have it here, 10,000 lire! We can fix the roof and these poor things can eat. Why did your father ever leave us?

Widow:
For three nights I've been up at 1:00am to cook. Think I'm tired? If I felt like it, I could dance all night long. Us older women are better than young girls.