Capítulo 17 de 18 · 1'46"
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?"
Molesley Finally Proposes to Baxter
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.
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.
A1–C2 es la escala MCER. Las tarjetas por encima del nivel elegido se atenúan y la reproducción no se pausa en ellas.
“Well, how should a man feel when all his dreams have come true?”
Happiness stated as a question: what should a man feel when everything has come true?
Formal
“I jolly well will, Mr. Molesley.”
A yes with British emphasis: jolly well, and no mistake.
Informal
“For the first time, I can offer a decent, prosperous life.”
A promise measured in dignity, not wealth: decent and prosperous, for the first time.
Formal
“For Mr. Barber now, but who knows what'll happen if I'm any good at it.”
Modest about today, open about tomorrow: who knows what happens if I'm good at it.
Informal
Siguiente · 18last the courseLa escena: Violet's Deathbed GoodbyesHe was ashamed that his best offer was only a poor life on a schoolmaster's salary, so he held back for years.
He is writing plays to be made into films, which finally gives him a decent, prosperous income to offer.
She wants the proposal done properly, so she prompts him, and he kneels before asking her to marry him.
She says yes at once: "I jolly well will, Mr. Molesley," accepting him warmly and keeping the formal address.
