- Lady Hester: The Germans and the Italians couldn't get rid of us. There is absolutely no reason why we should surrender to the Scots.
- Lady Hester: Do look. Oh, look! Look at that ridiculous American monstrosity they've given the child. What do they call them? Knickerbocker glories. Oh! It's amazing. They can even vulgarize ice cream.
- Elsa Morganthal Strauss-Armistan: Why are you helping me? You always hated me.
- Lady Hester: Because we're creatures from two different worlds, you and I. Because I have despised you. And you have laughed at me and the Scorpioni. And because in spite of all that, you've been very kind to us and kept it a secret. And because we've both been very foolish women. We've both trusted men who've turned out to be bastards.
- Elsa Morganthal Strauss-Armistan: Vittorio.
- Lady Hester: And Mussolini.
- [during Elsa's escape]
- Elsa Morganthal Strauss-Armistan: Are you trying to get rid of me?
- Lady Hester: Absolutely.
- Mary Wallace: Senior Guarnieri, there are no illegitimate children in this world; only illegitimate parents!
- Elsa Morganthal Strauss-Armistan: If I hadn't been there for you then, you wouldn't be here for me NOW.
- Georgie Rockwell: Hester, Hester, come on, chin up.
- Lady Hester: That's typically American. Keep out of trouble and tell other people to keep their chins up.
- Georgie Rockwell: Come on, you never know. I may be joining you sooner than you think.
- Lady Hester: Is that supposed to make me feel better?
- [first lines]
- Title Card: Florence 1935.
- Title Card: The love affair between the artistically-inclined English community and Florence was soon to be overshadowed by the clouds of war.
- Title Card: But at the moment the sun is still shining on the squares and statues, and the dictator Mussolini is the gentleman who makes the trains run on time.
- Connie Raynor: Excuse me, are you the Consul?
- British Consul: Yes.
- Connie Raynor: Connie Raynor of the Morning Post. I'm fascinated to know what His Majesty's Consul in Florence makes of it all?
- British Consul: I can't believe your readers would be interested in our little ceremony.
- Connie Raynor: Oh, they are. Since Mussolini, we can't get enough of Italy.