Matthew Crawley quotes from Downton Abbey

Matthew Crawley

At the front, the men pray to be spared, of course. But if that's not to be, they pray for a bullet that kills them cleanly. For too many of them today, that prayer had not been answered.

Matthew Crawley

Mother, Lord Grantham has made the unwelcome discovery that his heir is a middle class lawyer, and the son of a middle class doctor.

Isobel Crawley

Upper middle class!

You do know I mean to involve you in the running of the estate?

Matthew Crawley

Oh, don't worry, there are plenty of hours in the day. And of course I'll have the weekend.

We'll discuss this later, we mustn't bore the ladies.

What is a weekend?

You do not love the place yet.

Matthew Crawley

Well, obviously, it's...

No, you don't love it. You see a million bricks that may crumble, a thousand gutters and pipes that may block and leak, and stone that will crack in the frost.

Matthew Crawley

But you don't?

I see my life's work.

Lady Mary Crawley

What's it been like?

Matthew Crawley

You know the thing is, [pause] I just can't talk about it.

Well now, still in one piece. Thank God.

Matthew Crawley

Touch wood.

I never stop touching it.

But what are we patrolling for?

Matthew Crawley

You've been taking those logic pills again. This is the army, Mason. We're going on a patrol because we're going on a patrol.

No doubt you will regard this as rather unorthodox, my pushing into a man's bedroom, uninvited.

Matthew Crawley

Well, um...

It's just I don't want us to be disturbed. [she sits down] I'm sure you know how pleased I am that you will recover after all.

Matthew Crawley

Thank you.

Just as I am delighted that you can once more look forward to a...to a happy married life.

Matthew Crawley

I'm very lucky.

Now, this may come as a surprise but I feel I must say it all the same.

Matthew Crawley

Please do.

Mary is still in love with you.

Matthew Crawley

What?

I was watching her the other night when you spoke of your wedding. She looked like Juliet on awakening in the tomb.

Matthew Crawley

Mary and I have always had...

Of course, I suspected long ago that the flame hadn't quite gone out. But then there was no chance of your recovery, and it seemed best to let her try for happiness where she could.

Matthew Crawley

I quite agree, and Sir Richard is...

No, now let's not muddy the pool by discussing Sir Richard. The point is you loved her once. Are you sure you can't love her again?

Matthew Crawley

Cousin Violet, please don't think I mind your speaking to me in this way. I quite admire it. But consider this: Lavinia came back, against my orders, determined to look after me for the rest of my life, which meant that she would wash me and feed me and do things that only the most dedicated nurse would undertake, and all with no hope of children or any improvement.

Yes, yes, it's all very admirable. And I give her full credit.

Matthew Crawley

And giving her that credit, do you think it would be right for me to throw her over because I can walk? To dismiss her because I no longer have need of her services?

Spoken like a man of honor, and we will not fall out over this.

Matthew Crawley

But you don't agree.

I would just say one thing. Marriage is a long business. There's no getting out of it for our kind of people. Now, you may live 40, 50 years with one of these two women. Just make sure you have selected the right one.

Matthew Crawley

I wanted to find out what you meant when you said you "had" to marry Carlisle, and that I would despise you if I knew the reason.

Lady Mary Crawley

Yes, you would.

Matthew Crawley

Whatever it is, it cannot be enough for you to marry him.

Lady Mary Crawley

That's what Papa said.

Matthew Crawley

So you told him?

Lady Mary Crawley

Yes.

Matthew Crawley

Does he despise you?

Lady Mary Crawley

He's...very disappointed in me.

Matthew Crawley

Even so, please tell me.

Matthew Crawley

You were wrong about one thing.

Lady Mary Crawley

Only one? And what is that, pray?

Matthew Crawley

I never would--I never could despise you.

Matthew Crawley

I heard shouting.

Sir Richard Carlisle

Lavinia knew it, you know. She knew you never loved her.

Matthew Crawley

Don't you dare.

Sir Richard Carlisle

Oh, she did. It was late, she was tired, you two were locked in the corner of the room...she said, "If he could just admit the truth, then all four of us might have a chance."

Matthew Crawley

You liar.

Sir Richard Carlisle

I'm not a liar. No, I am many things but not that. She regretted it, of course, but she said it.

Matthew Crawley

You bastard.

Matthew Crawley

Sorry about the vase.

Oh, don't be. It was wedding present from a frightful aunt. I have hated it for half a century.

Matthew Crawley

You've lived your life and I've lived mine. And now it's time we lived them together.

Lady Mary Crawley

We've been on the edge of this so many times, Matthew. Please don't take me there again unless you're sure.

Matthew Crawley

I am sure.

Lady Mary Crawley

And your vows to the memory of Lavinia?

Matthew Crawley

I was wrong. I don't think she wants us to be sad. She was someone who never caused a moment's sorrow in her whole life.

Lady Mary Crawley

I agree.

Matthew Crawley

Then will you?

Lady Mary Crawley

You must say it properly. I won't answer unless you kneel down and everything!

Matthew Crawley

Lady Mary Crawley, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?

Lady Mary Crawley

Yes!

Matthew Crawley

My darling, I refuse to quarrel about something that hasn't happened and probably never will.

Lady Mary Crawley

That's what Anna says.

Matthew Crawley

Then she's right. My darling, I'm sure we will fight about money and about Downton, about how to rear our children, about any number of things.

Lady Mary Crawley

Then shouldn't we accept it? Matthew, I've been thinking...and I'm not angry now, truly I'm not. But if we can disagree over something as fundamental as this, then shouldn't we be brave and back away now?

Matthew Crawley

No.

Lady Mary Crawley

It's not because you're afraid of calling it off? Because I'm not.

Matthew Crawley

No. It's because of something Tom said: That I would never be happy with anyone else as long as you walked the earth, which is true.

Lady Mary Crawley

Who will groan first when they see it, Granny or Papa?

Matthew Crawley

[chuckles] I should think they'll howl at the moon in unison!

What in God's name is this? Well I never! [marvels at the AC]

Where did this come from?

Matthew Crawley

I ordered it in London, picked it up on the way back. It's an AC.

Well, at least it's English.