The Week 729

[MCC]

Quite bewildered by the italicised clues - 5, 13 and 28 down. I have M?L?. ?C?T?R? and ?E?E, respectively, and have solved the rest of the crossword, including the quotation, but I can't make the connection. Help, please?

[Captain2]

What are the clues?

[MCC]

Hi Cap - well, you asked for it!
The "quotation" is "At Christmas I no more desire a rose."
The crossword instructions state - "The quotation is taken literally in 3 italicised clues which contain wordplay for the entries (not necessarily real words) and definitions (to real words)".
The clues are - 5 dn - Disheartened Malone in a sullen manner (4) - 13 dn - Lawyers parking in front of courts maybe (7) - 28 dn - Keen to renew jet fuel (4).
It may, or may not, be significant that the clues are positioned directly above each other in the middle 'down' line of the crossword.
I remain bewildered!

[Aquagility]

Try this link, MCC. Then you may not look quite so cross!
http://www.crosswordsolver.org/forum/106412/

[MCC]

Thanks, aquagility - I had visited there before, but not since the last little exchange. Now that it's been explained, I have to confess I like it!