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.
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.
Robert Parks: Can't a man hate his own father?
Lady Sylvia McCordle: Far be it from me to contradict Louisa.
Mary Maceachran: What do I do with her Ladyship's jewels?
Elsie (Head Housemaid): This way. George is in charge of the safe, he's the first footman and you want to watch where he puts his hands.
Constance: Mary, I don't think I'll wear that shirt after all. The other one's warmer, that's all I care about.
Mrs. Croft: He was a hard-hearted randy old sod.
Constable Dexter: Sir, someone's traipsed a load of mud in down here.
Inspector Thompson: Not now, Dexter, please.
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.
Maid: Do you think he's the murderer?
Robert Parks: It's worse than that - he's an actor.
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, 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.
Raymond Stockbridge: Well, I think it's ridiculous. I'm here to shoot.
Louisa Stockbridge: Darling, it's a relief for me to sit next someone who isn't deaf in one ear.
Raymond Stockbridge: I'm sorry?
Constance, Countess of Trentham: Could we possibly get on before I freeze to death?.
Arthur: Something funny about that bloke.
George (First Footman): His accent for a start.
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.
Constance: Bought marmalade? Oh dear, I call that very feeble.
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.
Lavinia Meredith: It makes you sound desperate.
Anthony Meredith: Well, I AM fucking desperate.
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 ★