The Forsyte Saga (TV Series)

Episode #2.1 (2003)

Damian Lewis: Soames Forsyte

Quotes 

• Soames Forsyte : so... if you couldn't commit the matter to paper...

  Jolyon : keep your daughter away from my son! You probably know, they are together, as we speak.

  Soames Forsyte : [takes off his glasses]  I had no idea.

  Jolyon : They met at June's gallery. My son is staying with Val and Holly. Your daughter invited herself down, finagle her way in!

  Soames Forsyte : Val Darty and his wife extended Fleur an invitation...

  Jolyon : She forced their hand! She must be like you, she sees something and decides to get it.

  Soames Forsyte : [puts down his glasses]  so what do you want me to do?

  Jolyon : make sure, that this doesn't happen again.

  Soames Forsyte : Stop it, you mean?

  Jolyon : Absolutely.

  Soames Forsyte : You come here, behind your son's back, and tell me to break this up.

  [gets up from his desk, walks towards Jolyon] 

  Soames Forsyte : You! Of all people, the man who once lectured me on the importance of happiness in marriage; the man who spurned his own family to follow his heart; who stole another man's wife in the name of love...

  Jolyon : Jon and your daughter aren't in love...

  Soames Forsyte : [raising his voice]  Have you asked them?

  Jolyon : ...

  Soames Forsyte : This liaison is repugnant to me too - your son with my daughter. I will do my best to stop it and I presume you will too. But at least I don't have to play the hypocrite. Good evening to you sir.

• Soames Forsyte : I can't abide foreigners.

  Annette Forsyte née Lamotte : Then why did you marry one?

• Soames Forsyte : Your friends enjoyed themselves.

  Annette Forsyte née Lamotte : [Still upset over Fleur's attention-seeking behavior in front of her guests]  I want to put Fleur over my knee.

  Soames Forsyte : It was a joke.

  Annette Forsyte née Lamotte : She's capricious.

  Soames Forsyte : [In denial and making excuses for Fleur's behavior]  A little restive, perhaps.

  [pause] 

  Soames Forsyte : She and I will go to London - take in some galleries.

  Annette Forsyte née Lamotte : [Appalled]  You're ruining her, and you can't even see it. She needs someone to say no to her. You could influence her if you wanted to, if you had the strength.