Beyond the Lights (2014)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw: Noni

Photos 

Quotes 

• Noni : What we had was perfect right?

  Kaz : We started on a lie. So it could never be perfect.

• Noni : You know I always wondered when I'd do a shoot, and they'd tell me to hike up my skirt or take my shirt off, and I'd look to you to see if it was okay, and it was always okay.

  Macy Jean : Would you look around you? It is okay.

  Noni : No, it's not okay! It never was!

  Macy Jean : Noni, the song doesn't make you, you make the song. It's a game, alright?

  Noni : So what? You give me a new nose, a new body and some Indian chick's hair. New and improved, except I'm not a bloody product!

  Macy Jean : We did what we had to do.

  Noni : There was never any "we". Your word was gospel.

  Macy Jean : Wait, so now you're a victim? When did you ever tell me that you didn't want this?

  Noni : When I was on that balcony!

• Noni : [crying, to Kaz]  I feel like I'm suffocating in the middle of the street and no one can see me dying.

• Kaz : So, what's it like? Being on a stage, all those people feeling you?

  Noni : It's a crazy high. Better than any drug.

  [pause] 

  Noni : So, what's it like for you?

  Kaz : What?

  Noni : Saving someone's life.

  Kaz : Crazy high. Better than any drug.

• Noni : [to Kaz, fastening a bracelet she's just bartered for onto his wrist]  This is a merit badge. You have to earn these.

• Noni : So, Officer, what are you gonna do with your fifteen minutes?

  Kaz : Excuse me?

  Noni : Of fame. I bet you're gonna pull in a lot of chicks with this whole sexy, hero cop thing.

  Kaz : Don't do that. Two hours ago you were trying to drop twelve floors.

  Noni : And you were screaming, "I see you!" So... just what do you see?

  Kaz : Nothing.

• Noni : [to Kaz, about Nina Simone]  That voice. All that pain and power. Like she lived every lyric.

• Noni : I know you're not gonna call that reporter.

  Kaz : Why not?

  Noni : 'coz...

  Kaz : 'coz?

  Noni : [walks up to Kaz and kisses him]  'coz I see you too.

• Noni : I broke up with him.

  Kaz : I didn't ask you to.

  Noni : I didn't need your permission.

  Kaz : Just your label's.

• Noni : You... got on a plane!

  Kaz : Yeah, well, it wasn't quite as memorable as my first time, but they gave me snacks.

• Noni : [to Kaz]  That night on the balcony, you saw the goodness in me. And it was enough to keep me going until I could finally see it in myself.

• Noni : That fantasy girl you see on the posters? She did go over the balcony. And the real Noni Jean got pulled back up.

• Noni : Later, Kazaam.

  Kaz : Later, Noni Jean.

• Noni : [teasingly, to Kaz]  You really gotta tint these front windows.

• Noni : Kay, see we texted, we hit it and we texted about hitting it.

  Kid Culprit : That's damn near married, girl.

  [Noni chuckles] 

• Kaz : Why me, hmm? I mean you- you could have ANYONE.

  Noni : I want YOU.

• Noni : Nobody cares what I have to say.

• Noni : [flirtatiously]  You can't say no to me!

  Kaz : Try me.

  Noni : Kiss me.

  Kaz : No.

  [Kisses her] 

• Noni : I needed to know what was worth saving about me.

• Noni : Everyone says I'm special 'coz I have this voice. But I've just been saying what everyone else wants me to say- I need to say something.

• Kaz : [in response to some of the risque lyrics in Noni's song C'mon Boy]  Put your face WHERE?

  Noni : [chuckling in embarrassment]  I didn't write it, okay?

• Noni : [flirtatiously, to Kaz]  I need some protecting.