The Egyptian (1954)

Bella Darvi: Nefer

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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.

• 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.

• 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] 

• 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.