Sphinx (1981)

Lesley-Anne Down: Erica Baron

Photos 

Quotes 

• Yvon Mageot : Listen, Erica, before you say anything, I'm not very proud of that little stunt I pulled back in Cairo.

  Erica Baron : Some of the most charming men in history have been utter cads, Yvon.

• Erica Baron : I'm cured. I'm cured of men. The only man that interest me now is my friend Mernephtah.

• Abdu-Hamdi : Nowadays, I do mostly a routine trade in scarabs.

  [hands Erica a scarab] 

  Erica Baron : It's very nice.

  Abdu-Hamdi : What dynasty would you guess it was from?

  Erica Baron : I would say middle to late - Abdu-Hamdi.

  Abdu-Hamdi : I see that I am dealing with an expert.

  Erica Baron : It does look authentic. How do you do it?

  Abdu-Hamdi : It's all in the aging process. We feed them to turkeys. One passing makes a perfect patina.

  [Erica hands back the scarab] 

  Abdu-Hamdi : Please, keep it - to remember me.

  Erica Baron : Thank you. I'll think of you every Thanksgiving.

• Erica Baron : [slaps Yvon]  I don't like being slapped, even when I am hysterical.

• Erica Baron : I only met him this afternoon.

  Akmed Khazzan : And do you often go out with men in the evening whom you meet in the afternoon?

  Erica Baron : This is your country and your office and your little tea party, Doctor *Khazzan*; but, I've got to tell you, you're the rudest sonntofabitch I've ever met in my life.

• Erica Baron : My God, they're big!

• Erica Baron : I'm sorry. I haven't even thanked you for saving my life.

  Yvon Mageot : So, why don't we have dinner. You shouldn't be alone tonight.

  Erica Baron : I don't think I'm in the mood.

• Erica Baron : Coming here was the biggest thing of my life. Now, all I want to do is go home.

• Erica Baron : [after being discovered hiding under her hotel bed]  I was just checking to make sure that the mattress tag hadn't been ripped off. Because, it's against the law.

• Yvon Mageot : Now what?

  Erica Baron : I suppose the next thing is to go to Luxor. That's where most of Mernephtah's major work was at.

  Yvon Mageot : I think I can get us on the sleeping car this afternoon.

  Erica Baron : Us?

• Yvon Mageot : You seem very forgiving all of the sudden.

  Erica Baron : I have a very forgiving nature.

  Yvon Mageot : Yes - and I think perhaps you also want something from me.

• Erica Baron : Do you know what the chances of getting anywhere in Egyptology *through* the normal routes are for a woman? Do you know how many times you're passed over in favor of your so-called colleagues because of an accident of fate that happened 10 million years ago when somebody had to get up, leave the cave, go out and strangle an animal for dinner. It was *their* gender and not mine that was dumb enough, hostile enough, and big enough to do it.

• Yvon Mageot : Does this mean I'm forgiven?

  Erica Baron : Well, it could mean a lot of things if you play your cards right.