Isabella Soranza de Parma quotes from The Gentlemen

[served a drink by Susie in the boxing training gym office] Thank you. What a wonderful place for an office. Such a masculine atmosphere. You can just taste the testosterone. And yet here you sit, a beautiful rose in a tangle of thorns.

I like to think my feminine sensibilities act as something of a counterbalance.

I'm glad you came out tonight. Sometimes it's good to mix business with pleasure.

Well, I normally try to keep the two lanes separate.

[chuckles] And you were never tempted to make an exception for Eddie?

No, we work well together. That's very rare in this business. I'd never do anything to fսck that up. But I'll admit, he has his charms.

You make a good couple, you and Joe. You seem happier when you're with him. It's a good thing. Sometimes we all need to be happy.

Well, if you can't be happy, be merry.

[to Eddie, Susie and Bella appearing at his residence] Who are they?

They're here to help. This is the Contessa di Fabri.

Her grandfather was the greatest falconer in the whole of Italy, apparently.

Mind turning down the music a bit?

No, no. I think it's like a lullaby for the falcons, isn't it?

She's right. These birds, they love a bit of Italian opera.

Well, what you need to understand is falcons are incredibly romantic. When they mate, they mate for life. And this is how we're going to find your missing bird.

This is unexpected. To what do I owe the pleasure?

I thought we could have a chat.

You sound serious. Am I in trouble?

No, you're not. I might be. [to server] Uh, Antonio. Two drinks? [to Bella] I wanted to tell you a... a story, Bella. Bear with me, 'cause there's a small chance there might be a happy ending. There was once a man who made a mistake. And the cost of that miscalculation was a punishment. He awoke to find himself in a shallow grave, surrounded by the black abyss of nothingness. The pain was crushing. His legs were broken, and his body was beaten, and any movement invited a mplification of the agony that he was already drowning in. Thank you, Antonio. The only noise he could hear was a voice telling him his time was up. The game was over. The bell had rung. And as he closed his eyes, he accepted his fate. A spark of light appeared, flickering on the periphery of his consciousness. And that spark had an intention. It emanated a single message. "Follow me." And so he did. And after two nights, three miles of quagmire, thorn wood, and bush, he found himself on a suburban A-road on the outskirts of Basingstoke, and... and he was saved.

Why did you stop?

To allow you to finish the story.

How am I supposed to know how the story finishes?

'Cause you were there, Bella. You were on the journey. Every step of the way. I owe you my life. [takes out handkerchief] And, um, now... [places handkerchief on table] you owe me an answer.

[unfolds handkerchief to reveal a finger band ring, exhales] The answer is yes.