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Green Knight: One year hence.
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Green Knight, Queen: [as the Queen's voice overlaps with the Green Knight's while she reads his letter] Oh, greatest of kings, indulge me in this friendly Christmas game. Let whichever of your knights is boldest of blood and wildest of hearts step forth, take up arms and try with honor to land a blow against me. Whomsoever nicks me shall lay claim to this my arm. Its glory and riches shall be thine. But... thy champ must bind himself to this: should he land a blow, then one year and Yuletide hence, he must seek me out yonder to the Green Chapel six nights to the north. He shall find me there and bend a knee and let me strike him in return, be it a scratch on the cheek or a cut in the throat. I will return what was given me, and then in trust and friendship, we shall part. Who, then, who is willing to engage with me?
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Scavenger: You rest your bones, my brave little knight. I'll finish your quest for you. I'll finish it good.
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Gawain: Why do you stop me?
Fox: Your doom is at hand!
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[last lines]
Green Knight: Well done, my brave knight. Now... off with your head.
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The Lady: [to Gawain] When you go, your footprints will fill with grass. Moss shall cover your tombstone, and as the sun rises, green shall spread over all, in all its shades and hues. This verdigris will overtake your swords and your coins and your battlements and, try as you might, all you hold dear will succumb to it. Your skin, your bones. Your virtue.
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The Lord: This house is full of strange things. But then again, I see things everywhere that bear no logic.
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The Lady: Red is the color of lust, but green is what lust leaves behind, in heart, in womb. Green is what is left when ardor fades, when passion dies, when we die, too.
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Gawain: I fear I am not meant for greatness.
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Gawain: Honor. That is why a knight does what he does.
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The Lord: Have you ever seen a hawk kill a horse?
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King: Is it wrong to want greatness for you?
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Essel: Are you really going to go?
Gawain: Should I?
Essel: I like your head better where it is.
Gawain: I gave my word. I made a covenant.
Essel: This is how silly men perish.
Gawain: Or how brave men become great.
Essel: Why greatness? Why is goodness not enough?
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A woman in the brothel: You a knight yet?
Gawain: What?
A woman in the brothel: You a knight yet ?
Gawain: Not yet.
A woman in the brothel: Better hurry up !
Gawain: I've got time, I've got lots of time.
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King: Now it's Christmas. I wish to build bridges.
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Gawain: My lady, are you real or are you a spirit?
Winifred: What is the difference? I just need my head.
Gawain: As will I before the year is up.
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Gawain: If I go in there and I find it, what would you offer me in exchange?
Winifred: Why would you ask me that? Why would you ever ask me that?
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The Lady: You are no knight.
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King: Remember, it is only a game.
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The Lord: The world is fit for all manner of mysteries.
The Green Knight Quotes
Extended Reading
