The Lion in Winter (1968)

Jane Merrow: Alais

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Henry II : I want no women in my life.

  Alais : You're tired.

  Henry II : I could have conquered Europe - all of it - but I had women in my life.

• Alais : Kings, queens, knights everywhere you look and I'm the only pawn. I haven't got a thing to lose - that makes me dangerous.

• Henry II : We're off to Rome to see the Pope.

  Alais : He's excommunicated you again?

  Henry II : No, he's going to set me free.

• Alais : Henry isn't here.

  Eleanor of Aquitaine : Good, we can talk behind his back.

• Alais : Henry, I can't be your mistress if I'm married to your son.

  Henry II : Why can't you? Johnny wouldn't mind.

  Alais : I do not like your Johnny.

  Henry II : He's a good boy.

  Alais : He's got pimples, and he smells of compost.

  Henry II : He's just sixteen! He can't help the pimples.

  Alais : He could have a bath!

• Henry II : Whatever are you giving me?

  Eleanor of Aquitaine : You're such a child. You always ask.

  Henry II : "To Henry." Heavy. It's my tombstone! Eleanor, you spoil me.

  Eleanor of Aquitaine : I never could deny you anything.

  Henry II : [to Alais]  Don't go. It nettles her to see how much I need you.

  Alais : You need me, Henry, like a tailor needs a tinker's dam. Oh, I know that look. He's going to say he loves me.

  Henry II : Like my life.

  Henry II : [after Alais leaves]  I talk that way to keep her spirits up.

• Henry II : The new Medusa, my good wife.

  Alais : How is your queen?

  Henry II : Decaying, I suppose. No, don't be jealous of the gorgon. She is *not* among the things I love. How many husbands do you know who dungeon up their wives?

• Henry II : On this Christmas, I have all the enemies I need.

  Alais : You have more than you think.

  Henry II : Are you one? Has my willow turned to poison oak?

  Alais : If I decided to be trouble, Henry, how much trouble could I be?

  Henry II : Not much.

• Alais : If she doesn't stop us, Richard will.

  Henry II : Not anymore, I've corked him up. He's in the cellar with his brothers and the wine. The royal boys are aging with the royal port.

• Alais : If they're free when you die, it's the dungeon or the nunnery for me.

• Alais : Have you found religion, Henry? Will you look down from heaven and see who's sitting on your throne?

  Henry II : I must know before I die. There's a legend of a king called Lear, with whom I have a lot in common. Both of us have kingdoms and three children we adore, and both of us are old, but there it ends. He cuts his kingdom into bits. I can't do that. I've built an empire, and I must know it's going to last. All of Britain, half of France. I'm the greatest power in a thousand years and after me comes John.

• Alais : You're like the rocks at Stonehenge; nothing knocks you down.

• Alais : You like passing me from hand to hand. What am I to you? A collection plate?

• Alais : [singing]  The Christmas wine is in the pot, The Christmas coals are red, I'll spend my day, The lover's way, Unwrapping all my gifts in bed...

• Alais : Can you do it, Henry?

  Henry II : I shall have to, shan't I?