- DCI Tom Barnaby: [going to his car] Do not feel just because it's Christmas, you can't give us a call, OK? Anything serious happens, I want to know about it, understood?
- Sergeant Dan Scott: Yeah, got the message, sir. What are you looking for, an escape from the in-laws?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: [turning around and giving him a knowing wink] Now, don't you overdo this evening, all right? Things have a habit of happening around Christmas time, and you may have to be razor sharp in the morning.
- Phoebe Frears: [to Emily] Hit the red wine is my advice. It's the only way I get through it, that and thermal underwear.
- [last lines]
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Any chance of a mince pie, Joyce?
- Joyce Barnaby: In the oven. There's brandy butter and cream on the side.
- Dominic Jones: So, who's here?
- Jennifer Carter: Just Aiden, with his latest. Why don't you go introduce yourself? Her name's Emily. Apparently she can't bear the thought of a night without sex. But apart from that, she's quite ordinary.
- Dominic Jones: I'm Dominic. You must be Emily?
- Emily Hide: Hello.
- Dominic Jones: Don't worry. The first stay at Draycott Hall is always a bit of an ordeal. They're all quite balmy.
- Aidan Carter: Pure evil has walked alongside us is this house. We're talking about a man who cold blooded lay murdered the two people who invited him into their home, into the warmth of their family - our family. How can you possibly just sit there being so English, so calm? It's as though somehow you still blame...
- Howard Frears: [reading label] To the Villiers Family, Happy Christmas.
- [opens present]
- Aidan Carter: Give me that!
- Ross Villiers: Aidan!
- Aidan Carter: It's... it's just the ramblings of a senile old woman. You don't possibly think it's of any relevance.
- Ross Villiers: It's time we learned the truth.
- [first lines]
- Jennifer Carter: All right, let's see if this'll stay up this time, unlike last year. Will you check the mince pies? I want to get the brandy butter done in plenty of time.
- Aidan Carter: Oh, come on, Mummy, please. When any of my friends go home with their girlfriends their parents always put them in the same room. I mean, you know what the score is.
- Jennifer Carter: You can do what you like in your grubby little flats at university, but when you're in my house, it's a no bonking until you've tied the knot rule.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Do we know if the landing lights were turned on?
- Sergeant Dan Scott: They were not, sir. The switch nearest Miss Villiers's room wasn't working. Looks like the whole place could do with rewiring or knocking down.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: No sign of him yet. Enjoy it while ye may.
- Joyce Barnaby: I heard that. You will try to be patient with him this year, won't you? He doesn't always know what you're saying.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Cor, not much he doesn't.