This dialogue from The Barefoot Contessa (1954) is completely over my head. What Harry and Maria are talking about seems cryptic if not nonsensical.
Maria: Or, perhaps, you want me for yourself, and you're afraid that Mr. Kirk Edwards' money would make him more attractive than you.
Harry: What makes women think that having money makes a man feel more attractive? I never met a rich man yet who didn't think he was being loved in spite of his money.
Maria: And you?
Harry: Me? Mmm. I'm afraid I've had three wives. Oh, I've been around with actresses, female writers, singers, painters, even a female agent, but I don't think I've met more than two or three women in my life. Six months or so ago, I fell in love with one of them.
Maria: Is she an actress?
Harry: No, I told you. She's a woman.
Maria: Does she have to work?
Harry: Script girl.
First, Maria suggests that Harry may be jealous of Kirk Edwards because Kirk being rich makes Harry feel insecure about himself. Harry responds by saying "What makes women think that having money makes a man feel more attractive?" which seems to suggest he doesn't believe being rich makes a man more attractive or at least feel more attractive. But then he follows that with "I never met a rich man yet who didn't think he was being loved in spite of his money." He seems to be saying: "All the rich men he's met thought they were being loved." This apparently contradicts the last line. What does he mean exactly? Does he think being rich is a bonus that boosts one's attractiveness or chances of being loved or not?
Later Harry says, "I'm afraid I've had three wives. Oh, I've been around with actresses, female writers, singers, painters, even a female agent, but I don't think I've met more than two or three women in my life."
What is he saying here? Actresses, female writers, singers, painters, and agents are not "women"? Why does he say that? His later retort to Maria also appears to affirm his considering actresses not women. So actresses are not women, but script girls are? Why?