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.
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.
Barnes: Short arse.
Constable Dexter: Sir, someone's traipsed a load of mud in down here.
Inspector Thompson: Not now, Dexter, please.
Constance, Countess of Trentham: He's still got that vile little dog, I see.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Yes, the ones we hate last forever.
Constance: Bought marmalade? Oh dear, I call that very feeble.
Inspector Thompson: Well, you see, this is why we have rules and regulations, isn't it?
Mary Maceachran: Where's Mrs Croft?
George (First Footman): Always eats with her own staff.
Mary Maceachran: Does she take her pudding to Mrs Wilson's room? Our cook does that.
George (First Footman): Fat chance, they hate each other.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): God, look at this, machine made lace.
Barnes: Hark at her.
Elsie (Head Housemaid): I hate cheap clothes. They're twice the work and they never look as good.
Mary Maceachran: Mr. Parks.
Robert Parks: Robert.
Mary Maceachran: Robert. When you said you'd surprise me, you didn't mean anything by it, did you?
Robert Parks: Why? Don't you like surprises?
Maid: Do you think he's the murderer?
Robert Parks: It's worse than that - he's an actor.
Lavinia Meredith: It makes you sound desperate.
Anthony Meredith: Well, I AM fucking desperate.
Mary Maceachran: What will Lady Sylvia do now?
Lewis: If I were her, I'd set up in London as a glamorous widow with all the gentlemen chasin' me for my money.
Morris Weissman: How do you manage to put up with these people?
Ivor Novello: Well, you forget, I make my living impersonating them.
Lewis: You should know to pack your woollies when you come to this house.
Constance: Has anyone checked her outfit? She's probably in black velvet with a feather in her hair.
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?
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.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: What are you wearing?
Isobel McCordle: Don't you like it? You bought it.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Did I? How extraordinary of me.
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Please tell me you haven't come with condolences.
Answer: Jennings' drinking problem stems from his having been a World War I conscientious objector, for which he was imprisoned. He has kept this secret and is worried the police investigation will uncover his past and jeopardize his job. The maid, Dorothy, is secretly in love with Jennings and wants to protect him.
raywest