- Woman at Cocktail Party: My husband declares that I was simply born to be a writer. He says if anyone just took a pencil and followed me around, they'd have a novel.
- John Frederick Shadwell: My dear lady, I should be delighted to get behind you with a pencil.
- [Walking down a street in Rome, Maria gets a pinch from a fresh young Italian man]
- Maria Williams: Anita, somebody pinched me.
- Anita Hutchins: Don't look back. It's considered an encouragement. Just pretend you didn't notice.
- Anita Hutchins: Are you kidding? I'll kick him right in his antipasto!
- Maria Williams: He says we could fly there and be back by tonight.
- Miss Frances: Yeah, that's what he always says - and then he'll have trouble with his propeller and you'll have trouble with your reputation.
- John Frederick Shadwell: There's never any preparation for a death sentence, is there?
- Dr. Martinelli: There is a lifetime.
- John Frederick Shadwell: That sounds like something I might have written.
- Anita Hutchins: It's a good thing I'm going home. With you around here I'd be in a puddle of trouble in no time.
- Maria Williams: So, this is Rome. Where the pigeons eat caviar.
- Miss Frances: And the secretaries eat alone.
- Maria Williams: No wonder you're going home to be married.
- Anita Hutchins: I'm not even engaged. I just gave that as an excuse to the agency for leaving. But, at least I am going back to a country where I hope some nice guy will ask me. That's why I didn't throw a coin in the fountain of Trevi.
- Maria Williams: Oh, dear. It looks as though I've wasted a perfectly good penny.
- John Frederick Shadwell: Unless I miss my guess, sending that girl into get me was a feminine intrigue of yours. Am I right?
- Miss Frances: What ever makes you think that?
- John Frederick Shadwell: Don't be evasive.
- John Frederick Shadwell: The possibility of arousing unsuspected passion at my age would be not only disturbing; but, rather miraculous.
- Maria Williams: Oh, when do I meet my boss?
- Anita Hutchins: After breakfast. We'll all drive to work together. You'll meet him in plenty of time. There's nothing rushed in Rome.
- Maria Williams: Oh, I'm going to like Rome!
- Miss Frances: Perhaps we better warn our friend about Dino, before she meets him.
- Anita Hutchins: He's known as the Predatory Prince.
- Miss Frances: And girls who are seen in his company more than once, are known as Venice Girls.
- Maria Williams: Why?
- Miss Frances: Well, the time always comes when he asks you to fly to Venice with him.
- Anita Hutchins: And once you're known as a Venice Girl, you might as well go home.
- Maria Williams: He's nice! Oh, I don't believe he's the wolf you say. Why, he looks as innocent as a little boy.
- Anita Hutchins: Oh, that he does. But, don't try taking him on your lap and mother him. You'll find yourself suddenly screaming for the police.
- Maria Williams: Except for that handsome Prince, not one attractive man came near us at the party.
- Anita Hutchins: Well, I guess now is as good time as any to disillusion you. If you're a romantic, Rome is not the city for you.
- Maria Williams: Why not?
- Anita Hutchins: Well, the wealthy Italians don't waste their time on secretaries and the Italians who work at the agency are too poor.
- Miss Frances: [sarcastic toast] To the fountain of Trevi! To the lovely, romantic fountain of Trevi. Where hope can be had for a penny!
- John Frederick Shadwell: People are looking at you.
- Miss Frances: Well, high time!
- John Frederick Shadwell: Why can't women play the game properly? Everyone knows that in love affairs only the man has the right to lie.
- John Frederick Shadwell: These girls in love never realize that they should be honestly dishonest instead of being dishonestly honest.
- John Frederick Shadwell: Don't forget, I knew you when you were still running around in three-cornered pants.
- Maria Williams: Hello. I'm Maria Williams. We met at the Burgoyne's, Mr. Shadwell, but I'm sure you don't remember me.
- John Frederick Shadwell: You're quite wrong. I remember you very well. It's the party I've forgotten.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: What does it tell you? What does it say?
- Maria Williams: Well, different pictures say different things to different people.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: But, the right paintings say the right things to the right people.
- Maria Williams: Yes and you're so right.
- Woman at Cocktail Party: Tell me, do you get your best ideas at night? I always do.
- John Frederick Shadwell: Invariably; but, hardly material to write about.
- Maria Williams: At the prospect of going to Venice, I could be ready in five minutes.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: Oh, I can promise you it will be a trip that you shall long remember. So, let us not waste any time.
- Maria Williams: Oh, you don't mind giving Miss Frances a lift, do you?
- Prince Dino di Cessi: Oh, not at all. Where shall I drop you, Miss Francis?
- Miss Frances: Venice.
- Maria Williams: Well, where were you?
- Anita Hutchins: [daydreaming] I was just wondering how it would feel to ride to work on the handlebars of a bicycle.
- Mr. Burgoyne: I can't understand why she said she was going home to get married.
- Mrs. Burgoyne: Do you know if she's seen a doctor?
- Mr. Burgoyne: Such a thing would never occur to me. She seems like such a nice girl.
- Mrs. Burgoyne: Nice girls are human, my dear.
- Miss Frances: You could discuss art with him.
- Maria Williams: Oh, that would be a change. Does he collect nudes?
- Miss Frances: No. As a matter of fact he's mad about modern paintings.
- Maria Williams: Oh, that's a side I'd never suspect.
- Miss Frances: Why don't you show him you have a side he'd never suspect. Show him you have a mind.
- Maria Williams: Oh, I love you; but, I couldn't fool a fool.
- John Frederick Shadwell: Dino, take the advice of an old friend. Don't treat a work of art as you do an automobile, turning it in for a new model every year.
- Maria Williams: Well, we can't keep in the past forever, Mr. Shadwell.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: Exactly!
- John Frederick Shadwell: Nonsense. We live in the past from the moment we're born.
- Maria Williams: [viewing a painting] Now, this seems to have a feeling of space. Those lines that carry you off into the distance. Oh, infinity is - so lonely. Yes. It makes me want to cry.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: You surprise me. I could never put it better myself.
- Maria Williams: Oh, well, you must'n let me keep you. I'm just going to sit here awhile and absorb it.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: Well, if I may, I'll sit here and - absorb, also.
- Maria Williams: You play like an angel!
- Prince Dino di Cessi: Perhaps, someday, we - can play duets.
- Maria Williams: I should like that.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: Do you know what wine she likes? Lacryma Christi!
- Principessa: No.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: Yes!
- Principessa: Yes?
- Maria Williams: Yes.
- Principessa: No.
- Prince Dino di Cessi: Yes!
- John Frederick Shadwell: Have you ever considered the possibility of marrying me?
- Miss Frances: Every woman considers that prospect with every man she meets.
- John Frederick Shadwell: Now, then, I shall like to know the exact procedure in having a body shipped home.
- Mr. Hoyt: Well, first I must have a letter making the request.
- John Frederick Shadwell: Who writes the letter?
- Mr. Hoyt: That's a good question - who writes the letter. The regulations say a close relative. Then I must have a certificate from the doctor, a notarized report from the American port of entry, then permission from the city of Rome, and an export license.
- John Frederick Shadwell: I shall like a bottle of scotch, some ice, and a side of soda.
- Waiter: Sorry, sir. No bottles.
- John Frederick Shadwell: Why not?
- Waiter: Drinks, yes. But, no bottles.
- John Frederick Shadwell: Very well, my friend. Bring me six double scotches and line them up before me.
- Miss Frances: What are you intending to do with those?
- John Frederick Shadwell: I intend to get drunk.
- Miss Frances: Why?
- John Frederick Shadwell: I've been cautious too long.
- Maria Williams: What's that?
- Miss Frances: That's the fountain of Trevi.
- Anita Hutchins: Do you want to see it? If you throw a coin in the pool you're supposed to get your wish! Only the wish must always be the same thing: that you return again to Rome.
- Miss Frances: I tossed a coin into the fountain, every April, for the last 15 years. It's my Spring ritual. It's time to throw one in again.
- Anita Hutchins: Don't you want to wish?
- Maria Williams: Oh, yes. Keep me in Rome at least a year, Mr. Fountain.
- Anita Hutchins: No! No, no. You have to turn around, throw it over your shoulder.
- Anita Hutchins: I forgot to tell you. There's a policy here. Secretaries are not allowed to go out with local employees. Mr. Burgoyne's policy, if you please.