Moira Davidson: Dwight... even if you don't like me, would you please hold on to me just for a moment longer?


--Ava Gardner (as Moira Davidson) in On the Beach

Moira Davidson: I wouldn't really mind... if you could forget entirely who I am... I don't like myself very much anyway.


--Ava Gardner (as Moira Davidson) in On the Beach

Moira Davidson: There isn't time. No time to love... nothing to remember... nothing worth remembering.


--Ava Gardner (as Moira Davidson) in On the Beach

Pandora Reynolds: [looking at Hendrik's painting of her] It's not like I am at all. But it's who I'd like to be.
[looking at Hendrik]
Pandora Reynolds: Why am I not like that?
Hendrik: Perhaps you haven't found what you want yet, perhaps you're unfulfilled. Perhaps you don't even know what you want, perhaps you're discontented. Discontentment often finds vent through malice and destruction.
Pandora Reynolds: [suddenly angry] Malice and destruction, is that what you think? Well perhaps I can find something here to destroy.
Hendrik: I'm quite certain you will.
Pandora Reynolds: Your painting of me perhaps. Would you like me to destroy your painting?
Hendrik: [calmly] If it would help to quiet your soul.
Pandora Reynolds: How long have you worked on it?
Hendrik: [still perfectly calm] Does it matter?
Pandora Reynolds: [picks up a palette knife] Shall I do it then?
Hendrik: By all means.
Pandora Reynolds: [Pandora uses the knife to scratch out the face of the painted Pandora. Hendrik watches then calmly and wordlessly comes over to inspect the damage]
[stunned by his calmness]
Pandora Reynolds: Aren't you angry?
Hendrik: I was angry once before. I can never be angry again.
Pandora Reynolds: [pause, then quietly] You've made me feel quite ashamed of myself. It's a new emotion, I'm not sure I like it.


--Ava Gardner (as Pandora Reynolds) in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman

Dr. Steinfeldt: [in the hospital, while the baroness refuses medical assistance] Don't you want to live?
Baroness Natalie Ivanoff: I *have* lived!


--Ava Gardner (as Baroness Natalie Ivanoff) in 55 Days at Peking

Mike Campbell: I should have thought you'd have loved being a steer, Robert.
Robert Cohn: What do you mean, Mike?
Mike Campbell: Well, they lead a sort of quiet life. They never say anything important, and they're always hanging around. I should have thought you'd have enjoyed that. Aren't you going to say anything?
Lady Brett Ashley: Oh, shut up, Mike!
[She pulls his beret down on his head]


--Ava Gardner (as Lady Brett Ashley) in The Sun Also Rises

Magnolia: Julie, nothing's changed.
Julie: [embracing Magnolia] Oh Nollie, Nollie, always true! Stay happy now.


--Ava Gardner (as Julie LaVerne) in Show Boat

Brandon Bourne: Whatever it was, it's over!
[He walks away and she follows]
Isabel Lorrison: Maybe it wasn;t love. Maybe it was only chemistry or the right combination or a miracle, but most people drag through their whole lives without finding it. We both know that, don't we,Bran?


--Ava Gardner (as Isabel Lorrison) in East Side, West Side

Brandon Bourne: You're spoiling what was a beautiful memory, Isobel. I don't remember you as being this cheap.
Isabel Lorrison: [Seductively] I always was... That's what you like.


--Ava Gardner (as Isabel Lorrison) in East Side, West Side

Judith Fellowes: [Yelling at Shannon] You thought you outwitted me, didn't you, having your paramour here cancel my call.
Maxine Faulk: Miss Fellowes, honey, if paramour means what I think it does you're gambling with your front teeth.


--Ava Gardner (as Maxine Faulk) in The Night of the Iguana