- Orson Welles: [First lines, narrating, as graphic archival images of war and strife in Italy are shown] Oh, yes. The Second World War was quite a disaster for poor old Italy. Their Fascist leader, Mussolini, had teamed up with Hitler and thought he was on a winning ticket. Then, Benito was shot by Partisans and strung up by his heels in the local square... Now, in 1948, the country is still leaderless, broke, and heading for chaos. Sure, the rich are still rich... If you're not in furs, you're in rags. People are starving and disillusioned, and getting angrier by the day. Meanwhile, the black market is booming: with a fistful of lire, you can get yourself just about whatever you want.
- Orson Welles: [Still narrating, as a news photo of an assassinated aristocrat man and wife is shown - both shot in the head] If you still harbor a grudge or two from the war, it's a fine time to lay your mind to rest.
- Brewster: [Pete Brewster, Lucky Luciano and Luciano's henchman have driven Welles out to a deserted stretch of dirt road and forced him out of the car] You call yourself an American?
- 'Lucky' Luciano: Listen - he's just another name on that list. I say we waste him. Let the Reds take the rap.
- 'Lucky' Luciano: [Luciano's henchman punches and beats Welles, who falls to the ground. Henchman then approaches Welles and points a pistol to his head] You got somethin' to say about that, Mr. Welles? Somethin' smart?
- Orson Welles: [Thug, with gun to Welles' head, racks the slide on his pistol] Christ, Pete, stop him! You gotta' stop him!
- Brewster: [Coldly indifferent] I don't have to stop him. You heard what he said: you're just a name on a list.
- Orson Welles: [Welles, in pain, grunts and groans on the ground]
- Brewster: How can we possibly shoot you, when you played such a sterling part for Uncle Sam? You know that "list"... when we first planted it and you made such a big splash with it in the Press - well, it was more than I could have hoped. You know the best part? Originally, you weren't even on the list. You know why?... You're not that important. You were kind of an afterthought.
- 'Lucky' Luciano: You're not worth the bullet, Mr. Welles.
- Brewster: [Welles, still on the ground, glares up at him] Don't judge me! The war never stopped. It just went underground. We simply have to win. Now, it's all about sacrifices, and whether you're tough enough to make them.
- Orson Welles: Maybe you made too many, Pete. I remember when you had a soul, not just a job.
- Brewster: You're entitled to your opinion.
- Orson Welles: It's a free country.
- Brewster: [Walking back to the car, leaving Welles lying in the road] Fuck you, Orson.
- Orson Welles: Fuck you, Pete.
- [Brewster and the others drive off, leaving Welles deserted in the road]
- Lea Padovani: I keep hoping - these elections - maybe a new democracy.
- Tommaso Moreno: Same shit, different flies.
- Orson Welles: [Last lines, narrating] And what in the end did I do? I made a crummy picture, and not a lot of difference. It's not as if things would have been any better had the Communists got in. "Same shit," as my friend would say, "different flies." Still, one HELL of a trip... So that just about wraps it up. And when people ask me if all this was true, well, like I say, if you're looking for facts, pick up the history book - just be sure to check who wrote it.
- Orson Welles: So tell me...
- Tommaso Moreno: The war... the facists brought people here to torture them
- Orson Welles: People... only ghosts, only ghosts
- Tommaso Moreno: Some of these ghosts, they won't lay down
- Brewster: I don't care who does what to whom in this country, but you're an American citizen, that makes you my responsibility. You're so lucky not to be floating face down in the Tiber right now. So please, finish your lousy movie and try to stay out of trouble for five minutes.
- Orson Welles: Maybe you're right.
- Brewster: I know I'm right.
- Orson Welles: It is a lousy movie.
- Orson Welles: How could I know then the chain of events the danger, deception, and murder that was about to unfold?
- Lea Padovani: [looking ar Orson] What is he supposed to be?
- Assistant Director: King of the gypsies.
- Lea Padovani: He looks like a queen.
- Orson Welles: I was struck dumb by your beauty.
- Lea Padovani: Americans think the world is made so they can play with it.
- Orson Welles: The Italians own everything worth having. The best wine, the best food.
- Lea Padovani: Except when we are starving.
- Orson Welles: In that case, may I invite you to dinner?
- Orson Welles: I'm a director, Signor Moreno. People's lives are my business. Besides, I'm, uh, addicted to mystery.
- Orson Welles: Perhaps I owe you an introduction.
- Lea Padovani: I know who you are. You are the Army Occupation. You have invaded Cinecitta.
- Orson Welles: I love the spirit, the chaos. The Italian people, they've been through so much they really deserve some kind of democracy.
- Tommaso Moreno: A guy who drives in a limousine is gonna talk to me about people?
- Orson Welles: Well, you seem happy enough to be driving one.
- Tommaso Moreno: Do I seem happy to you?
- Orson Welles: So, if you're not a Communist, what are you?
- Tommaso Moreno: Me? I'm nothing.
- Orson Welles: Come now, Tommaso. I think you need to work on your self-esteem a little.
- Tommaso Moreno: Or maybe you could just lend me some?
- Brewster: We're even helping them set up a new government. You follow the politics at all?
- Orson Welles: Not really, I just read the graffiti.
- Orson Welles: You see, Othello was a military genius. And the powerful don't trust genius. They may respect it, may envy it. They may use it for their own purpose, but don't trust it. When I first went to Hollywood, I might as well been a Moor. I had a legion of lagos, all plotting my downfall. It's a waste of their time, of course. I'm perfectly capable of destroying myself.
- Orson Welles: Last time I saw you was in a brothel in Sao Paolo.
- Brewster: Really? I didn't think anybody saw me.
- Orson Welles: You're beautiful. "It gives me wonder, great as my content. To see you here before me. O, my soul's joy!" I think I'm in love.
- Lea Padovani: I think you're confused.
- Orson Welles: Oh, no. As I look into your eyes, I begin to understand myself.
- Lea Padovani: Is that a quotation, too?
- Orson Welles: Oh, no. Maybe some day.
- Aida Padovani: He could be so tender. He nursed me, brought me opium for the pain. I thought maybe he loved me, too. Maybe a little.
- Orson Welles: Take the Yankee cigarette, take the Yankee candy. For what the Yanks will take from you ain't quite so doodle dandy. Democracy and Friendship. Or is it smoke and mirrors? For I could tell you tales of villainy so dire of lies and murder done beneath the banner of freedom.
- Tommaso Moreno: Jesus, you - you people, you come over here, you - you piss with our country, you piss with our women.
- Orson Welles: Piss?
- Tommaso Moreno: Now you're gonna go and suck Democrat dicks.
- Tommaso Moreno: Because of your big Mr. Welles career you're gonna sit on your fat ass and do nothing?
- Stella: Of what you are afraid?
- Orson Welles: Afraid of being found out. Discovering I'm a nothing. An empty box of tricks. And a coward.
- Stella: My poor, sad Orson. We are all ugly sticks of shit. But at least we have our dreams.
- Orson Welles: Sometimes you get the feeling that you've got a handle on things, and then suddenly it - all becomes confusing. Do you ever get that?