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Downton Abbey: A New Era · 2022 — Chapter 17 of 18 · 1'46" · B2

Molesley Proposes to Baxter, Explained: what the blazes

Molesley finally works up the nerve to propose to Phyllis Baxter, the woman he once thought he was too poor to marry. He tells her his plays will be filmed and asks whether she will have him, kneeling only after she prompts him: "Are you not going to kneel?"

What happens

In the kitchens at Downton, Molesley at last proposes to Phyllis Baxter. He explains that he once kept quiet because he had only a schoolmaster's salary to offer, but now his writing will be turned into films and he can offer a comfortable life. When she asks if he intends to kneel, he does, and asks her to marry him.

ProposalsAskingPromisingCoupleB2slowbritishClean
IMDb ↗

Listen for

dreams have come truefrom now onwhat do you saywhat the blazes

00:00 / 01:46
Space play · ← → lines · R repeat
Now
Tap a line to replay it

Phrase of the scene

what the blazes

搞什么名堂；什么鬼东西

巴克斯特听到莫斯利说要写剧本，脱口而出这句惊讶，又替他高兴。

What the blazes is going on in there?

Also in this scene

  • dreams have come true

    梦想成真

  • from now on

    从现在起

  • what do you say

    你说好不好

Everything marked in this scene

25 notes across 30 lines

Phrase · B1one's dreams come trueWell, how should a man feel when all his dreams have come true?
Grammar · B2when all his dreams have come true

time clause with when

Well, how should a man feel when all his dreams have come true?
Soundcome true

liaison

Well, how should a man feel when all his dreams have come true?
Phrase · B1feel ashamedI felt ashamed.
Phrase · B1the best someone could offerThe best I could offer was a poor life on a schoolmaster's salary.
Grammar · B1The best I could offer

could for past ability

The best I could offer was a poor life on a schoolmaster's salary.
Grammar · C1I'd have taken it

conditional perfect

I'd have taken it.
Phrase · B1won't have to do somethingBut now you won't have to.
Phrase · A2write playsI'm gonna write plays to be made into films.
Phrase · B1who knowsFor Mr. Barber now, but who knows what'll happen if I'm any good at it.
Phrase · B1be any good at somethingFor Mr. Barber now, but who knows what'll happen if I'm any good at it.
Grammar · B2what'll happen if I'm any good at it

nominal clause with what

For Mr. Barber now, but who knows what'll happen if I'm any good at it.
Soundany good at it

liaison

For Mr. Barber now, but who knows what'll happen if I'm any good at it.
Phrase · B1from now onUh, it's gonna be talking films from now on.
Phrase · B2what the blazesOh, what the blazes?
Slang · B2what the blazesOh, what the blazes?
Phrase · A2for the first timeFor the first time, I can offer a decent, prosperous life.
Phrase · B2a decent, prosperous lifeFor the first time, I can offer a decent, prosperous life.
SoundFor the first time

liaison

For the first time, I can offer a decent, prosperous life.
Phrase · A2the both of usFor the both of us.
Phrase · B1what do you say?So what do you say?
Phrase · B1never happen againIt'll never happen again.
Phrase · A2marry someoneWill you marry me, Miss Baxter?
Phrase · B2jolly well + verbI jolly well will, Mr. Molesley.
Slang · B2jolly wellI jolly well will, Mr. Molesley.

Molesley Proposes to Baxter, explained

What's really going on

The proposal is the payoff of a long courtship that ran on class as much as feeling. Molesley was held back by the sense that he could not support a wife, and he says so plainly: "The best I could offer was a poor life on a schoolmaster's salary." What changes everything is the movies. The very industry that has thrown Downton into chaos gives a butler-turned-aspiring-writer a livelihood, and he frames marriage as something he can now afford: "For the first time, I can offer a decent, prosperous life." Baxter's answer, "I jolly well will, Mr. Molesley," returns the formality of the household with warmth, and the small comedy of the kneeling instruction keeps the scene from turning solemn. Two servants who spent years apologizing for their hopes finally get to say yes.

Theme

RomanceAfter years of hesitation, Molesley proposes openly and Baxter accepts at once, ending a long, patient courtship.
ClassMoney and status held the marriage back, and the film business finally gives Molesley enough to propose.

What you'll learn

  • 'come true' carries more than its dictionary gloss.
  • 'from now on' changes the pressure of the reply.
  • The surrounding lines set the social temperature.

Listen for

  • come true — liaison
  • any good at it — liaison
  • For the first time — liaison
Well, how should a man feel when all his dreams have come true?

Molesley's answer to the question of nerves: he is not anxious but giddy, because everything he wanted is finally happening.

I jolly well will, Mr. Molesley.

Baxter's delighted yes, phrased with the formal address of the household and an emphatic British 'jolly well.'

For the first time, I can offer a decent, prosperous life.

The heart of the pitch: writing for films now gives him money enough to support a wife, which he could never offer before.

For Mr. Barber now, but who knows what'll happen if I'm any good at it.

Molesley's cautious optimism about his new career, hinting the films open a future he cannot yet promise.

Questions about this scene

Why did Molesley not propose sooner?

He was ashamed that his best offer was only a poor life on a schoolmaster's salary, so he held back for years.

What changes so he can propose now?

He is writing plays to be made into films, which finally gives him a decent, prosperous income to offer.

Why does Baxter ask him to kneel?

She wants the proposal done properly, so she prompts him, and he kneels before asking her to marry him.

How does Baxter answer the proposal?

She says yes at once: "I jolly well will, Mr. Molesley," accepting him warmly and keeping the formal address.

Downton Abbey: A New Era · 18 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 18last the courseViolet's Deathbed Goodbyes
Chapter 1who are we to argueViolet Gives Sybbie a French VillaChapter 2take a dim viewJack Barber Pitches Filming at DowntonChapter 3wouldn't hear of itHollywood Comes to DowntonChapter 4frighten the horsesThe Family Dines with Myrna DalgleishChapter 5eye someone upDinner at the Villa of the DovesChapter 6in a wayTom and Lucy Inherit the VillaChapter 7perform miraclesMary Saves the TalkieChapter 8On an impulseMolesley Pitches His Own EndingChapter 9trouble in paradiseMary Talks About Her MarriagesChapter 10more than capableRobert Learns Cora Is IllChapter 11in your handsMyrna Walks Off the SetChapter 12washed upThe Maids Talk Myrna DownChapter 13had in mindViolet Says Goodbye to TomChapter 14await developmentsGuy Offers Barrow a Hollywood JobChapter 15an object of desireBarber Asks to Kiss MaryChapter 16a fool for loveViolet Tells Mary the TruthWatching · Chapter 17what the blazesMolesley Proposes to BaxterChapter 18last the courseViolet's Deathbed Goodbyes
Chapter 17 of 18 · about 2 min to go