Downton Abbey Season 1 quotes

Tom Branson

My vision of this country and where it should be headed is different from yours....I believe in reform, and the moral direction of the left.

I would only say this, Tom: In your time here, you've learned both sides of the argument, befriended people you'd once have seen as enemies.

Tom Branson

That's true.

You should be proud. Five years ago would you have believed you could be friendly with my mother?

Tom Branson

Not sure I would've believed it five minutes ago.

Don't make nothing of what you've achieved, that's all.

Atticus Aldridge

You must have a very sweet tooth.

Lady Rose McClare

Oh, no they're not for me! I give tea to some Russian refugees every Tuesday and Thursday. They love cake.

Atticus Aldridge

I love cake.

Who was that on the telephone?

Simon Bricker.

Oh God. What does he want?

I shall answer without commenting on your tone. He wants to have the painting photographed for his book.

Mrs. Hughes

But why did you ask him?

Because he's a man, I suppose.

Mrs. Hughes

I'm not sure that's a good enough reason.

Nor am I, now. But I don't want to hurt his feelings.

Mrs. Hughes

I wish men worried about our feelings a quarter as much as we worry about theirs.

Lady Rosamund Painswick

I'm afraid you've read somewhere that rudeness in old age is amusing, which is quite wrong, you know.

We both know you are not leaving my house until I learn the truth. So shall I have a bed made up for you here, or are you doing to tell me now?

Mr. Drewe

I'm trying to bring her around, but I wish you hadn't jumped the gun.

Lady Edith Crawley

I know. But I had some bad news today and I needed to see her.

Mr. Drewe

You mean you were right about Marigold's father? I'm very sorry to hear it. But if you could just give me some time...

Lady Edith Crawley

I don't have time, Mr. Drewe!

Lady Mary Crawley

Granny, what do you think?

Oh, it is you. I thought it was a man wearing your clothes.

Tom Branson

It suits you.

It's certainly just the sort of thing I'd expect of you.

All this endless thinking. It's very overrated.... I blame the war. Before 1914, nobody thought about anything at all.

Tom Branson

Oh God, Edith! Won't you wait and talk to them about it?

Lady Edith Crawley

If I talked to anyone, it'd be you.

Tom Branson

Then talk to me, please!

Lady Edith Crawley

I can't stay, Tom. Not if I'm ever going to be happy at all.

It's lunacy! You've lost your mind!

Lady Edith Crawley

Tell her!

Mr. Drewe

It's true. Marigold's her daughter.

It's a lie! I don't know what she's holding over you, but you can't let her get away with it!

Lady Edith Crawley

I have a copy of her birth certificate. It's in French, but you can read my name clearly enough!

Mr. Drewe

Which was brave of you.

Lady Edith Crawley

My aunt wanted me to use a false one, but I knew I might need proof.

Give that to me! [tears it up]

Lady Edith Crawley

I have others!

You've cooked this up between you!

Mr. Drewe

That's enough. We've got nothing formal that gives us any claim over her.

Only a note from her dying father!

Mr. Drewe

Which I wrote.

How could you do this? I'm your wife, yet you have lied and cheated and used me shamefully! If you had taken a mistress you couldn't have been more false!

Lady Edith Crawley

Mrs. Drewe, I know you don't want to hear this, but I'm very grateful.

No, I don't bloody want to hear it!

Atticus Aldridge

Let me not fall in front of Rose.

Lady Mary Crawley

I'm glad her opinion matters.

Atticus Aldridge

I'd rather not look like a fool quite yet. She can discover it gently.

Isobel Crawley

I think she's splendid!

I think she's cracked.

Lady Edith Crawley

[looks at her illegitimate daughter in her arms] Well, we're together, darling. And I know it's not ideal, but it's such an improvement on being apart that I think we should celebrate. I'll order ice cream, and a glass of champagne, and we'll be as jolly as you like!

I've been awake the whole night. There's only one thing we can say. We have to tell Cora.

Lady Rosamund Painswick

Well, isn't that rather a betrayal?

If anything happens to Edith and Cora learns later we knew all along, she would never forgive us. And I wouldn't blame her. You see, as a mother it is her right.

Lady Rosamund Painswick

But you don't plan to tell Robert? He is Edith's father.

He's a man. Men don't have rights.

Lady Mary Crawley

What's the matter, Granny?

I'm just worried about Edith.

Lady Mary Crawley

Oh, I can't think why.

My dear, a lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears.