Covington Cross (TV Series)

Pilot (1992)

Nigel Terry: Sir Thomas Grey

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  [Sir Thomas enters his banquet room after two armored knights have destroyed its furniture and dishes during their furious swordfight] 

  Sir Thomas Grey : How many times have I told you? NOT... IN... THE CASTLE!

• Sir Thomas Grey : Friar! Friar!

  Friar : My lord?

  Sir Thomas Grey : Where's my son?

  Friar : Which one?

  Sir Thomas Grey : The only one you tutor. You are still tutoring him?

  Friar : Yes. Of course.

  Sir Thomas Grey : How he is progressing with his studies?

  Friar : We're... making progress.

  Sir Thomas Grey : Does he have an aptitude for the church?

  Friar : He's working on his Latin now.

  [Sir Thomas walks into the study and finds his son hiding behind a huge book while cuddling a beautiful servant girl] 

  Sir Thomas Grey : Latin has changed.

  Cedric Grey : Latin isn't working out for me.

  Sir Thomas Grey : It seems to be working out quite nicely.

• Sir Thomas Grey : Where's Eleanor?

  Cedric Grey : In the solar - but I wouldn't go in there?

  Sir Thomas Grey : Not go in there? I'll go wherever I like. Whether anyone realizes it or not, this is still my castle. While I'm still lord of this castle, my God, I will go anywhere I like!

  [Sir Thomas opens the door to the solar and is immediately greeted by a crossbow bolt that barely misses his head] 

  Sir Thomas Grey : You could have killed me!

  Eleanor Grey : You could have knocked.

• Sir Thomas Grey : Lady Elizabeth has offered you music lessons.

  Eleanor Grey : I don't want music lessons.

  Sir Thomas Grey : You're going to take them nonetheless.

  Eleanor Grey : But why?

  Sir Thomas Grey : Because ladies study music, not the crossbow.

• Cedric Grey : Why can't I be a knight?

  Sir Thomas Grey : Because you're going to become a cleric.

  Cedric Grey : I wasn't meant for the church.

  Sir Thomas Grey : When Almus left, I swore an oath for your mother, Cedric, that since she was losing her eldest son to the Crusades, at least her youngest would be spared the horrors of war. A cleric's blood is not spilled on the battlefield. We have enough knights. Now, leave it.

• King Edward : Thomas - a word. Mullens has an intriguing notion.

  Sir Thomas Grey : So your message said.

  King Edward : It's time to put this feud to rest, Thomas. I'm being threatened by the Scots, the French are making noises, your own land is being robbed and pillaged by bandits. This is not the time for Englishmen to be divided. I want peace, Thomas! Listen to what he offers.

• Sir Thomas Grey : Since when did love have anything to do with a marriage contract?

  Eleanor Grey : Well it should. And it will for me!

• Sir Thomas Grey : I've indulged you too much, Eleanor. Your days are spent in fantasy! Crossbows and whimsical notions that have nothing to do with the world.

  Eleanor Grey : The world can be anything we make it.

  Sir Thomas Grey : The world as you know it has been made by me! This place, everything about you, the food you eat, the safety you enjoy - where do you think it came from? From the commerce I've sought, from the compromises I've made. From the thing not perfect and at times damn unpleasant.

• Lady Elizabeth : Rant and wail until these old walls shake - it won't change the truth. You're sending your daughter into bondage.

  Sir Thomas Grey : I gave my word.

  Lady Elizabeth : And how I hope that word comforts you when you see in the hatred in the eyes that once worshipped you.

• Sir Thomas Grey : [to his sons]  In my dying breath, these faces will give me such comfort.

  [seeing that they are distressed] 

  Sir Thomas Grey : I have done this before. Try not to destroy the place while I'm gone.

• [Elizabeth saves her father's life with a well-aimed shot from her crossbow] 

  Sir Thomas Grey : This doesn't mean you get to give up your music lessons.