Gosford Park (2001)

Helen Mirren: Mrs. Wilson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mrs. Wilson : I'm the perfect servant; I have no life.

• 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 : He's very full of himself, I must say. Doesn't eat meat. He's coming to a shooting party and he doesn't eat meat.

  Mrs. Wilson : Now now Mrs Croft. We don't want to be thought unsophisticated do we? Mr Weissman's an American. They do things differently there.

• 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.

• 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 : I'll leave you to your book.