- 'Young Jolyon' Forsyte: The first day of Autumn, the fall of the year, and in London, naturally, the first fog. But in this, the greatest city in the world, life must go on, and Forsytes have to see that it does. Whatever the weather, they must attend to business, as indeed other less prosperous folk must do. "Poor devil," a Forsyte might say to himself, "looks as if he's having a bad time." But then follows the consoling thought: "It serves him right after all. He should manage his affairs better." But what of a Forsyte with a guilty conscience - and there are some? Is there room in his heart for shame and pity, or is he rather proud of having asserted his rights at last and behaved like a man? Who can tell? But one thing's certain: whatever emotion may boil inside him, he will keep it as dark and secret as the grave.
- [Monty has set the cat amongst the pigeons over Philip, before getting up to leave]
- Emily Forsyte: Monty, you can't just go and leave us bursting with curiosity.
- Montague Dartie: I'm sorry, mama - Freddie will tell you all the shocking details, won't you, Freddie?
- [He kisses his wife and heads to the door]
- Montague Dartie: Goodbye, everyone.
- [He exits, and the ladies look to Freddie expectantly]
- Emily Forsyte: Well, Winifred?
- 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte: Winifred!
- Aunt Juley Forsyte: What shocking details?
- 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte: Yes!
- Winifred Dartie: None, I'm afraid. As far as I know, Monty was joking.
- Aunt Juley Forsyte: Oh, dear, and I quite thought we were going to hear something definite at last.
- 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte: Definite, Juley?
- Aunt Juley Forsyte: About Mr Bosinney and Irene - are they or aren't they? That's what I want to know!
- [June waits in Philip's flat for him. Irene arrives]
- June Forsyte: Phil isn't here. Nobody's here.
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: Except you ... and I.
- June Forsyte: Yes. I ... I came to tell him Soames won the case.
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: Of course.
- June Forsyte: Phil wasn't there. I didn't expect him to be.
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: Why not?
- June Forsyte: Phil wouldn't defend himself. Why should he? He's done nothing wrong.
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: No.
- June Forsyte: All he did was to make the house more beautiful.
- [She moves away]
- June Forsyte: What are you doing here?
- [Irene remains motionless]
- June Forsyte: Don't stand there like that, as if you were made of stone.
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: I wish to God I were.
- June Forsyte: So ... it's all true. Everything I've ... I've tried not to think about, everything they've said about you; it's all true.
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: I don't know what they've said. I haven't been listening.
- June Forsyte: You've no right to be here!
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: I've no right anywhere.
- June Forsyte: What do you mean?
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: I've left Soames. You always said I should; don't you remember? But it wouldn't have happened - I should never have got free ...
- June Forsyte: Stop! Don't tell me, I don't want to hear anything, I don't want to know ...
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: Why not? Are you afraid? You shouldn't be!
- June Forsyte: You were my friend. I thought you were my friend.
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: [laughing] Yes! And you were a child. But you're no longer a child. You're a woman. And you should know by now that women don't have friends. They have a lover and other people they just happen to have met.
- June Forsyte: You revolt me.
- Irene Forsyte née Heron: Yes!