MovieChat Forums > The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961) Discussion > Why did the Contessa ask Mrs. Stone for ...

Why did the Contessa ask Mrs. Stone for money?

posted 14 years ago by mikwalen
7 replies | jump to latest

Maybe I missed something...but recall when the Contessa ran into Karen at the Rome nightclub, and she gave Karen a hard luck story and said she needed $1,000.00? Karen then consented to giving her $500.00.

What was behind that? Why would this Contessa ask for this money?

And while I'm here ... what was the reference to "running away to Algiers" about? The Contessa said this to Paolo about Karen, then Paolo told it to aren about the Contessa.

Thanks!!

"You've got to face facts"
"Which ones? We have so many"

[–] TopFlight 14 years ago

The contessa was tired of waiting for her cut from Paolo, who supposedly hadn't received any cash from Mrs. Stone at that point. Mrs. Stone was well aware that the contessa was basically the pimp in this situation, so she probably felt she owed her.

[–] info-3508 14 years ago

I believe she asks to test her. See if she is game to being with the "marchetta" life and if so, how much.

Seems like the Tangiers (Morocco) reference coming from both parties in the same context is a clue that Contessa and Paolo have done this part of the dance before.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] cookiela2001 13 years ago

<< "Here's $500. Now piss off, because he and I are having a REAL relationship, so that's all you are going to get from this set up." LOL >>

Yuh. Famous last words!

[–] nutritionist 13 years ago

This crucial moment is being missed by most posters:

This Contessa, this evil woman, who had just gotten "cheated" by Beatty (Paolo) out of her "commission", got a very evil look in her eye, and then walked slowly over to Karen Stone like a Feline to her prey. You have to remember that up until this moment Karen was deluding herself that this was just a relationship of the heart, even though deep down she knew it was not, but hadn't faced it yet. Now the Countess was out for revenge. The ultimate revenge would be to ask Karen for the "fee" - the fee of the Pimp for the Gigolo. By paying the money, this would force the genteel lady to have to admit to the sordidness of the affair. That was Contessa's revenge for being stiffed by Paolo. When they argued over the "price", a thousand or five hundred, this was even further humiliation for Karen. When she agreed to pay the pimp (Countess), it was the beginning of the end so to speak.

[–] HarlowMGM 12 years ago

I feel the Contessa is the one who has humiliated herself because Paolo has not given her anything she is forced to ask for charity from Karen with a sob story but clearly with an underlining suggestion of "hey, I introduced you to this stud gigolo and he's not given me anything and I usually get a nice fee, couldn't you at least give me something out of gratitude?" Karen doesn't give the Contess what she wants but gives her $500 with the implication this is get-lost money.

The Countess, leech that she is, takes the money but clearly is angry she was reduced to this and still is not getting much for her efforts (and realizing Karen isn't giving money hand over fist to Paolo either) so she schemes to play on Paolo's greed and "pay back" Karen for humilating her by setting Paolo up with the rich movie star who will presumably be far more generous with her money than Karen has been.

[–] denis-38 11 years ago

"Are you trying to 'touch' me, Contessa?"

"A thousand?"

"Five Hundred."

********************

"You see, Paulo, I don't leave my diamonds in the soap dish. And when the time comes that I am no longer desired for myself, I rather not be...desired, at all."

Viv has some lovely moments throughout the film.