Gosford Park Quotes
The lives of upstairs guest and downstairs servants at a party in 1932 in a country house in England as they investigate a murder involving one of them.
Mrs. Wilson: What gift do you think a good servant has that separates them from the others? Its the gift of anticipation. And I'm a good servant; I'm better than good, I'm the best; I'm the perfect servant. I know when they'll be hungry, and the food is ready. I know when they'll be tired, and the bed is turned down. I know it before they know it themselves.
[after maintaining her iron reserve throughout the whole film, Mrs. Wilson goes to her room and closes the door. A few minutes later, Mrs. Crofts goes in and finds her collapsed on her bed, sobbing uncontrollably]
Mrs. Croft: Don't cry, Jane. They'll hear you.
[Mrs. Wilson can't stop crying]
Mrs. Croft: Come on. You did what you thought was best for him at the time. I see that now.
Mrs. Wilson: Lizzie... I've lost him, Lizzie. I've lost him, he'll never know me. My boy...
[sobs]
Mrs. Wilson: Oh, my boy!
Mrs. Croft: [putting a hand on her shoulder] At least your boy is alive. He's alive. That's what matters.
[Mrs. Wilson touches her sister's face, and hugs her, crying softly]
Mrs. Croft: Don't cry, Jane. They'll hear you.
[Mrs. Wilson can't stop crying]
Mrs. Croft: Come on. You did what you thought was best for him at the time. I see that now.
Mrs. Wilson: Lizzie... I've lost him, Lizzie. I've lost him, he'll never know me. My boy...
[sobs]
Mrs. Wilson: Oh, my boy!
Mrs. Croft: [putting a hand on her shoulder] At least your boy is alive. He's alive. That's what matters.
[Mrs. Wilson touches her sister's face, and hugs her, crying softly]
[Morris Weissman is asked about his upcoming movie project]
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Mr Weissman.
Morris Weissman: Yes?
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Tell us about the film you're going to make.
Morris Weissman: Oh, sure. It's called "Charlie Chan In London". It's a detective story.
Mabel Nesbitt: Set in London?
Morris Weissman: Well, not really. Most of it takes place at a shooting party in a country house. Sort of like this one, actually. Murder in the middle of the night, a lot of guests for the weekend, everyone's a suspect. You know, that sort of thing.
Constance: How horrid. And who turns out to have done it?
Morris Weissman: Oh, I couldn't tell you that. It would spoil it for you.
Constance: Oh, but none of us will see it.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Mr Weissman.
Morris Weissman: Yes?
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Tell us about the film you're going to make.
Morris Weissman: Oh, sure. It's called "Charlie Chan In London". It's a detective story.
Mabel Nesbitt: Set in London?
Morris Weissman: Well, not really. Most of it takes place at a shooting party in a country house. Sort of like this one, actually. Murder in the middle of the night, a lot of guests for the weekend, everyone's a suspect. You know, that sort of thing.
Constance: How horrid. And who turns out to have done it?
Morris Weissman: Oh, I couldn't tell you that. It would spoil it for you.
Constance: Oh, but none of us will see it.
Mary Maceachran: They said Sir William was planning to cut Lady Sylvia out of his will in favour of Miss Isobel.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: That's nothing. In the new will, Sir William left Lady Stockbridge 100,000 pounds. Sylvia thinks it's a huge joke, especially since she won't have to pay it.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: That's nothing. In the new will, Sir William left Lady Stockbridge 100,000 pounds. Sylvia thinks it's a huge joke, especially since she won't have to pay it.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Where's that wretched Mabel.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Has anyone checked her outfit? She's probably in black velvet with a feather in her hair.
Lavinia Meredith: She's in the morning room looking perfectly normal. Don't be such a snob aunt Constance.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Me? I haven't a snobish bone in my body.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Has anyone checked her outfit? She's probably in black velvet with a feather in her hair.
Lavinia Meredith: She's in the morning room looking perfectly normal. Don't be such a snob aunt Constance.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Me? I haven't a snobish bone in my body.
Mr. Jennings: Mr. Meredith.
Barnes: Hmm?
Mr. Jennings: You haven't seen Commander Meredith anywhere, have you?
Barnes: No.
Mr. Jennings: He never came downstairs and he's not in his room.
Barnes: Mr. Jennings, I've washed him and dressed him. If he can't find his way to the drawing room, it isn't my fault.
Barnes: Hmm?
Mr. Jennings: You haven't seen Commander Meredith anywhere, have you?
Barnes: No.
Mr. Jennings: He never came downstairs and he's not in his room.
Barnes: Mr. Jennings, I've washed him and dressed him. If he can't find his way to the drawing room, it isn't my fault.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: So what's the gossip in the servant's quarters?
Mary Maceachran: Um, nothing my lady.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Nonsense. Come on, out with it.
Mary Maceachran: Well, is it true that Sir William could have married Lady Stockbridge if he'd wanted to?
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Is that what they're saying?
Mary Maceachran: Only that Lord Carton was after Sir William for one of them but he didn't care which.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: What would you say if I told you, they cut cards for him.
Mary Maceachran: Um, nothing my lady.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Nonsense. Come on, out with it.
Mary Maceachran: Well, is it true that Sir William could have married Lady Stockbridge if he'd wanted to?
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Is that what they're saying?
Mary Maceachran: Only that Lord Carton was after Sir William for one of them but he didn't care which.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: What would you say if I told you, they cut cards for him.
Constance: They're rather a mixed bunch. That Mr. Weissman's very odd. Apparently, he produces motion pictures. The Charlie Chan Mysteries. Or does he direct them? I never know the difference. Mary! I suppose it's fun having a film star staying but there's always so little to talk about after the first flush of recognition. And why has Freddy Nesbitt brought that awful common little wife of his? Isabel only asked him because another gun dropped out; that's no excuse to inflict her on us all. Mary... Tomorrow, I'll have breakfast in bed, and then get straight up into the tweeds. What shirt have you brought?
Mary Maceachran: The green with the pink stripe.
Constance: Oh no dear, no. No, that's quite wrong. Always something very plain for country sports - the one I wore today will do.
Mary Maceachran: But it's soiled.
Constance: Well you can wash it, can't you?
Mary Maceachran: The green with the pink stripe.
Constance: Oh no dear, no. No, that's quite wrong. Always something very plain for country sports - the one I wore today will do.
Mary Maceachran: But it's soiled.
Constance: Well you can wash it, can't you?
Henry Denton: Who is it?
Lottie: Oh, I'm ever so sorry, sir.
Henry Denton: Sorry for what?
Lottie: I'm supposed to get the fire lit without waking you.
Henry Denton: Why does everyone treat me as if I were one of these stupid snobs? I spent half the week downstairs with all of you.
Lottie: You can't be on both teams at once, sir.
Lottie: Oh, I'm ever so sorry, sir.
Henry Denton: Sorry for what?
Lottie: I'm supposed to get the fire lit without waking you.
Henry Denton: Why does everyone treat me as if I were one of these stupid snobs? I spent half the week downstairs with all of you.
Lottie: You can't be on both teams at once, sir.
[Many years ago, Sylvia and Louisa cut cards to decide which of them would marry Sir William. Louisa lost]
Constance: Anyone care for a game of bridge after dinner? Louisa, how about you?
Louisa Stockbridge: Oh, I don't think so. I've rather gone off cards. I've never been very lucky with them.
Sir William McCordle: Me too.
Constance: Anyone care for a game of bridge after dinner? Louisa, how about you?
Louisa Stockbridge: Oh, I don't think so. I've rather gone off cards. I've never been very lucky with them.
Sir William McCordle: Me too.
Constance: Tell me, how much longer are you going to go on making films?
Ivor Novello: I suppose that rather depends on how much longer the public want to see me in them.
Constance: It must be hard to know when it's time to throw in the towel... What a pity about that last one of yours... what was it called? "The Dodger"?
Ivor Novello: The Lodger.
Constance: The Lodger. It must be so disappointing when something just *flops* like that.
Ivor Novello: I suppose that rather depends on how much longer the public want to see me in them.
Constance: It must be hard to know when it's time to throw in the towel... What a pity about that last one of yours... what was it called? "The Dodger"?
Ivor Novello: The Lodger.
Constance: The Lodger. It must be so disappointing when something just *flops* like that.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Are any of the others getting up for breakfast? The women, I mean.
Mary Maceachran: I think Lady Lavinia may be.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: That settles it. Come back at half past eight. I'll get dressed. It's the greatest bore, of course, but I don't want to miss anything.
Mary Maceachran: I think Lady Lavinia may be.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: That settles it. Come back at half past eight. I'll get dressed. It's the greatest bore, of course, but I don't want to miss anything.
Robert Parks: Here we go again.
Mary Maceachran: That's just it. I've never done a real houseparty before. Not properly anyway.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): How come you got taken on as a countess lady's maid if you've got no experience?
Mary Maceachran: She wants to train me. She said she didn't care about experience.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): She didn't want to pay for it, you mean.
Mary Maceachran: That's just it. I've never done a real houseparty before. Not properly anyway.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): How come you got taken on as a countess lady's maid if you've got no experience?
Mary Maceachran: She wants to train me. She said she didn't care about experience.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): She didn't want to pay for it, you mean.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Mrs Wilson, a major crisis has arisen. I've just found out that Mr Weissman won't eat meat and I don't know what to do and I can't ask Mrs Croft. I simply don't dare.
Mrs. Wilson: Oh, everything's under control your ladyship. Mr Weissman's valet informed us as soon as he arrived so we've prepared a special version of the soup, he can eat the fish and the hors d'oeuvres, there'll be a welsh rarebit for the game course, I'm not sure what we're going to do about the entree but we'll think of something.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Thank you Mrs Wilson. Ten steps ahead as always. Which one of you is Mr Weissman's valet?
Henry Denton: I am, your Ladyship.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Are you indeed. Yes. Well. Thank you for your...
[pause while she takes a good look at him]
Lady Sylvia McCordle: efficiency.
[leaves]
George (First Footman): [to Denton] You're all set then.
Mrs. Wilson: Oh, everything's under control your ladyship. Mr Weissman's valet informed us as soon as he arrived so we've prepared a special version of the soup, he can eat the fish and the hors d'oeuvres, there'll be a welsh rarebit for the game course, I'm not sure what we're going to do about the entree but we'll think of something.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Thank you Mrs Wilson. Ten steps ahead as always. Which one of you is Mr Weissman's valet?
Henry Denton: I am, your Ladyship.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Are you indeed. Yes. Well. Thank you for your...
[pause while she takes a good look at him]
Lady Sylvia McCordle: efficiency.
[leaves]
George (First Footman): [to Denton] You're all set then.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): George?
George (First Footman): They're coming in a minute. The dressing bell's just gone.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): I'm going out of my mind up there. I've read all my magazines twice. You couldn't pinch something out of the library for me? I don't care if it's Horse and Hound, as long as I haven't read it.
George (First Footman): They're coming in a minute. The dressing bell's just gone.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): I'm going out of my mind up there. I've read all my magazines twice. You couldn't pinch something out of the library for me? I don't care if it's Horse and Hound, as long as I haven't read it.
[at the banquet dinner table]
Sir William McCordle: And why shouldn't I be interested in films? You don't know what I'm interested in.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Well, I know you're interested in money and fiddling with your guns. But I admit it: when it comes to anything else, I'm stumped.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): Now, that is not fair, Bill is...
[Realizing that she spoke out of turn, Elsie quickly leaves the room]
Sir William McCordle: And why shouldn't I be interested in films? You don't know what I'm interested in.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Well, I know you're interested in money and fiddling with your guns. But I admit it: when it comes to anything else, I'm stumped.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): Now, that is not fair, Bill is...
[Realizing that she spoke out of turn, Elsie quickly leaves the room]
Lavinia Meredith: I don't care what's changed or not changed as long as our sons are spared what you all went through.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Not all. You never fought, did you, William?
Sir William McCordle: I did my bit.
Louisa Stockbridge: Of course you did.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Well, you made a lot of money but it's not quite the same as charging into the cannon's mouth, is it?
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Not all. You never fought, did you, William?
Sir William McCordle: I did my bit.
Louisa Stockbridge: Of course you did.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Well, you made a lot of money but it's not quite the same as charging into the cannon's mouth, is it?
Robert Parks: What's your name?
Mary Maceachran: I think here I'm called Trentham.
Robert Parks: [laughs] No, I meant your real name.
Mary Maceachran: Oh. Mary. Mary Maceachran.
Robert Parks: Blimey. What does Her Ladyship call you?
Mary Maceachran: Well, she should call me Maceachran now I'm a lady's maid. At least that's what my mother says. But Her Ladyship can't pronounce it, so she just calls me Mary.
Robert Parks: I don't blame her.
Mary Maceachran: I think here I'm called Trentham.
Robert Parks: [laughs] No, I meant your real name.
Mary Maceachran: Oh. Mary. Mary Maceachran.
Robert Parks: Blimey. What does Her Ladyship call you?
Mary Maceachran: Well, she should call me Maceachran now I'm a lady's maid. At least that's what my mother says. But Her Ladyship can't pronounce it, so she just calls me Mary.
Robert Parks: I don't blame her.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Mrs Wilson, absolute crisis. I've just found out that Mr Weissman won't eat meat. I don't know what to do and I can't ask Mrs Croft. I simply don't dare.
Mrs. Wilson: Everything's under control your ladyship. Mr Weissman's valet informed us as soon as he after he arrived so we've prepared a special version of the soup, he can eat the fish and the hors d'oeuvres, there'll be a welsh rarebit for the game course, I'm not sure what we're going to do about the entree but we'll think of something.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Thank you Mrs Wilson. Ten steps ahead as always. Which one of you is Mr Weissman's valet?
Henry Denton: I am, your Ladyship.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Are you indeed. Yes. Well. Thank you for your...
[pause while she takes a good look at him]
Lady Sylvia McCordle: efficiency.
[leaves]
George (First Footman): [to Denton] You're all set then.
Mrs. Wilson: Everything's under control your ladyship. Mr Weissman's valet informed us as soon as he after he arrived so we've prepared a special version of the soup, he can eat the fish and the hors d'oeuvres, there'll be a welsh rarebit for the game course, I'm not sure what we're going to do about the entree but we'll think of something.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Thank you Mrs Wilson. Ten steps ahead as always. Which one of you is Mr Weissman's valet?
Henry Denton: I am, your Ladyship.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Are you indeed. Yes. Well. Thank you for your...
[pause while she takes a good look at him]
Lady Sylvia McCordle: efficiency.
[leaves]
George (First Footman): [to Denton] You're all set then.
