Downton Abbey s02e01 Episode Script

- Get him over here.
- You'll be all right.
- Sergeant Stephens? - Sir.
I want every wounded man taken down the line before it starts to get dark.
We've bloody well lost enough of them for one day.
- When did this arrive? - This morning, sir.
Ah! Good news.
We're to be relieved today by the Devons.
The men can finally get some rest, and I've got a few days leave coming to me.
- What will you do with them, sir? - London first.
To remind myself what real food tastes like.
Then north for a couple of days, I suppose.
Naturally, there's a girl I want to see while I'm there.
So I should hope, sir.
It's strange, isn't it? To think of our lives just going on as before? While we're here.
In this.
It's more than strange.
When I think of my life at Downton, it seems like another world.
We normally have everything done before the family wakes up, but it's all at sixes and Sevens today.
I'll go through it with you tomorrow, when we're back to normal.
I do know how to run a house.
Come along.
It goes under the epaulette.
I'm sorry, milord.
If I'd known, I'd have asked Mr Bates about it before he left for London.
Because I'll be in uniform a lot of the time, in future.
Does being Lord Lieutenant mean you're back in the army? No, not exactly.
The Lord Lieut is responsible for the army in the county while the war's on.
But, no, I'm not back in the army.
It appears they don't want me.
Morning.
I don't suppose there's any news of Bates? Er, we expect him back any day, milord.
He wrote to Anna that they had the funeral last Monday.
William's a good chap, but he's not Bates when it comes to uniforms.
I may not be a real soldier, but I think I ought to look like one.
Quite, milord.
We don't often see you in here for breakfast.
Isobel said she was coming up to help and your mother threatened to look in.
No doubt they would love it if they found me still in bed.
I don't believe it.
Please say it's something nice.
General Robertson's invited me to be Colonel of the North Riding Volunteers.
Well, this is the best bit.
"It may please you to know that the idea was given to me by General Haig.
" Well, if Haig's involved, it means I'm back in the army properly.
How can that be? You were told you weren't wanted for active service.
You can't jump in and out of the army like a jack-in-the-box.
I don't see why not.
Churchill went back to the front after the Gallipoli business.
If he can do it, why shouldn't I? Sybil, are you all right? Sybil, darling? Would you excuse me? I think I'll just She's had more bad news.
I do think I'm getting better, don't you? Up to a point, milady If you could just get the clutch right down to the floor.
- But I am.
- Not quite, milady.
It doesn't seem to want to go.
I think it wants to, if you ask it properly.
That's better.
You'll be putting me out of a job.
Won't the call-up put you all out of your jobs? I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
What are you giving them to eat? Not much.
They know the money's for the hospital so they can't expect Belshazzar's Feast.
I'll make some cheese straws.
What's the matter with you? Nothing much.
Me dad still won't let me enlist.
Your father has no one but you.
Of course he doesn't want you to enlist.
- Who can argue with him? - So I stand by while the lads on the farms and in the gardens go to war.
Even Thomas is at the front in the Medical Corps.
Ha! That'll come as a nasty shock.
Oh, you can make fun of him, Mrs Patmore.
But he's fighting for his king and country and I'm not.
Well, I daresay, you won't have long to wait.
Well, I hope you're right.
Do you? Because I don't.
I hope very much that I am wrong.
It's kind of you to let us have it here.
They'll enjoy it so much more.
And you can charge so much more for the tickets.
Good morning, Mama.
This is very early for you to be up and about.
War makes early risers of us all.
I thought I would help with the Hewers.
Bassett has plenty, but Thank you.
You don't mind my taking over the flowers, do you? Cora's flowers always look more suited to a first communion in southern Italy.
Well, what else have you planned for tonight's revels? Anything we can think of that will raise money.
Hot buttered toast with a Countess at tuppence a slice? You drop the cushions on the floor to plump them up.
I know.
Ethel? Are you settling in? I would be, if Anna'd stop teaching me how to suck eggs.
I was head housemaid in my last position.
You were senior housemaid, out of two, in a much smaller house.
Are they to come in here tonight? Only at the interval, and keep them out of the drawing room.
I thought Mr Bates would've been back by now, or he could've stood guard.
Who is this Mr Bates? His Lordship's valet.
He's been in London because his mother died.
Well, everyone talks about him as if he were king.
Do they? That's nice to hear.
Anna.
Help me do battle with this monstrosity.
It looks like a creature from The Lost World.
You should let William do that.
He's got enough on his hands, getting the uniforms out of mothballs.
I must remember to put Anna on alert for dinner tonight.
You have to ease up a bit or you'll give yourself a heart attack.
There's a war on.
Things cannot be the same when there's a war on.
I do not agree.
Keeping up standards is the only way to show the Germans that they will not beat us in the end.
Well, give me some warning the next time we're expecting Germans at Downton and I'll see what I can do.
Thank you.
Oh, we thought we'd come in here for a little talk.
Oh, well I'm sure we won't be disturbed.
Please.
Well, the thing is I've had a letter from Matthew.
Of course he doesn't tell me what he's actually doing.
No.
He wouldn't.
But I'm glad he's all right.
- I miss him.
- Well, that's the point.
You must know he's been down here a few times since the war started.
We had heard.
- Downton is hardly a metropolis.
Is he still determined to go back to Manchester when it's all over? He doesn't talk much about life after the war.
None of them do.
I suppose they don't want to tempt fate.
Until now, that is.
He writes that he is engaged to be married to a Miss Lavinia Swire.
Well, I suppose we all knew it would happen one day.
- Do you know her? - Not yet.
Apparently, they met when he was in England last time.
It all seems rather hurried.
You can't blame them for wanting to live in the present.
Anyway, he's been in London on leave and now he's bringing her here to meet me.
He'll be here tonight and tomorrow, then he leaves on Thursday while she stays for a bit.
So will you miss the concert? Well, that's up to you.
We'd all hoped that he and Mary would sort things out between them.
But if that's not to be, then shouldn't we try to get back to normal? Even if he's not keen to live in the village, he's still the heir.
And you're still his family.
I quite agree.
We can't know if Matthew will come through it.
Either way, I would like to see him and I want to wish him luck.
The trouble is Mary's back from London today as well.
She gets in at five o'clock Matthew's driving down in Lavinia's car.
They won't meet on the train.
That's a relief.
I hate Greek drama.
You know, when everything happens off stage.
But should we tell her not to come? We might still catch her.
Isobel's right.
We must use this engagement as a new beginning.
You bring our Lieutenant Crawley to the concert and stay for dinner afterwards.
I was hoping you'd say that.
Oh, there you are.
I'm just going home, but I'll be back at 4200 Sybil My dear, what's the matter? Tom Bellasis has been killed.
What a terrible thing.
I remember him at Imogen's ball.
He made me laugh out loud, just as her uncle was giving a speech Sometimes, it feels as if all the men I ever danced with are dead.
I just feel so useless, wasting my life while they sacrifice theirs.
You've been a tremendous help with the concert.
No, I I don't mean selling programmes or finding prizes for the tombola.
I want to do a real job, real work.
Well, if you're serious, what about being an auxiliary nurse? There's a training college in York.
I know I could get you onto a course.
It may be something of a rough awakening.
Are you ready for that? I mean, have you ever made your own bed, for example? Or scrubbed a floor? O'Brien, what is it? Mr Platt is taking Her Ladyship and Lady Grantham down to the village.
She wondered if you'd like to go with them.
That's very kind.
Thank you.
Go on.
What else would I need? Well, if you're serious, what about cooking? Why don't you ask Mrs Patmore if she could give you one or two basic tips? When you get to York, it might be useful to know a little more than nothing.
They want to use her as a maid of all work at the hospital.
I suppose it's cheaper when Lady Sybil can live here for nothing.
But it doesn't seem quite right, somehow, to take advantage.
No, it does not.
I hear the young men that are being brought in now are very disfigured.
- How terrible.
- Limbs missing and faces blown apart.
And Lady Sybil's been nurtured so very gently.
And what types would she be working with? Still, you'll know what's best to do.
Yes.
I certainly will.
Where's the batter for the pancakes? - It's in the cold larder.
- Are we having pancakes tonight? Are we 'eck as like.
- Upstairs dinner.
Crépes Suzettes.
- I've always wanted to try those.
Could you save me some? If they don't finish them all.
Save you some Crépes Suzettes? If you don't mind.
What are we having? - Lamb stew and semolina.
- Do you eat a lot of stews? Don't you fancy that, dear? - Not all the time.
- Oh, I see.
Erm, would you like to sleep in Her Ladyship's bedroom while you're at it? I wouldn't mind.
I hate sharing a room.
- I didn't in my last place.
- There were only two maids and a cook.
- I'm just saying.
- And I'll "just say" if you don't look out! You've got a cheek, on your first day.
I don't see why.
I want the best and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
And you think we don't? I think it's hard to change at your age.
I don't blame you, but I suppose in the end I want to be more than just a servant.
I'm sorry, but if Dr Clarkson needs free labour, I'd prefer him not to find it in my nursery.
- But Sybil isn't in the nursery.
- No, and in case you hadn't noticed, she hasn't been there for some time.
- You know what I mean.
- No, not really.
Well, you can't pretend it's not respectable when every day we're treated to pictures of queens and princesses in Red Cross uniform, ladling soup down the throat of some unfortunate.
But Sybil won't be ladling soup.
She'll have to witness unimaginable horrors.
And she's an innocent.
- Her innocence will protect her.
- Yes, for once, I agree with Cousin Isobel.
Sybil must be allowed to do her bit like everyone else.
What about you, Molesley? Are you ready for the call if it comes? It won't be coming for me, milady.
I had a letter from the War Office to say I'm not suitable for service.
Why not? I I really couldn't say, milady.
As you can imagine, Molesley's father is beside himself with joy.
God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform.
Bates? No one told me you were on this train.
They didn't know, milady.
We'll give you a lift to the house.
- Why didn't you say you were coming? - I didn't know until today.
Anna, I borrowed a case from Lady Rosamund.
I bought some things while I was in London.
Very good, milady.
Well, it would be our secret.
A surprise.
You don't mind, do you? Oh, it's not that I mind, milady And I only need the basics.
How to boil an egg, how to make tea.
Don't you know how to make tea? Not really.
You're right.
It is a joke.
But when I start my course, I don't want to be a joke.
Will you help me? - 'Course we will, won't we? - If you say so.
Let's get started.
Do you know how to fill a kettle? Everyone knows that.
Not everyone, apparently.
When can I talk to you? After the concert.
Outside in the courtyard.
There's bound to be a gap before they start dinner.
- Are you going up for the concert? - Maybe.
Can I sit with you? Don't be daft, we've got a dinner to make.
I've not got time for concerts.
I've had a letter from me dad.
He won't change his mind.
He says he can live with it if I get called up, as there's nothing we can do.
But if I enlist and anything happens, he'll never get over it.
- He loves you.
- He may love me.
But he doesn't own me and he's not being fair.
- Glad to be back? - I'm never sure.
When I'm in London, I long for Yorkshire and when I'm here, I ache to hear my heels clicking on the pavement.
I'd forgotten about this nightmare concert.
Why didn't you warn me? I'd have come back tomorrow.
But you'd have missed Matthew.
I was going to tell you.
Matthew's on leave and he's in the village, so Papa and I thought it would be a good time to mend our fences.
He's coming tonight, with Isobel.
And his fiancée.
What? Edith, I don't know how helpful you're being.
Matthew's engaged.
He's brought her to Downton to meet his mother.
Well, how marvellous.
You don't mind? Why should I? We're not going to marry, but I don't want him to spend the rest of his life in a cave.
Exactly what Papa and I feel.
Please try to be happy for him.
Of course I'm happy.
Good luck to him.
Anyway, there's someone I want you all to meet.
Have you ever come across Richard Carlisle? Sir Richard Carlisle? The one with all those horrid newspapers? We met at Cliveden.
But how old is he? Old enough not to ask stupid questions.
Anyway, I can't wait for you to know him.
If only Papa hadn't closed down the shoot.
Most people have stopped shooting now that the war's on.
But I'm sure Papa would be happy to have Sir Richard come and stay.
Are you? I shouldn't have thought he was Papa's type at all.
Are you coming? I'll be down in a minute.
Are you all right, milady? Oh, Anna.
It's awfully grand.
You'd better get used to it.
It'll be your home one day.
I'm not sure "home" would ever be quite the word to describe it.
My dear fellow, welcome back.
It's so very good to see you.
- May I present Miss Lavinia Swire? - How do you do, Lord Grantham.
How do you do, Miss Swire.
- So, that's Mary's replacement.
Well, I suppose looks aren't everything.
I think she seems rather sweet.
I'm afraid meeting us all together must be very intimidating.
I do hope so.
- Please come this way.
- Thank you.
It's good to see you.
Hello, Miss Swire.
I'm Mary Crawley.
Of course you are.
I mean, I've been longing to meet you because I've heard so much about you from Matthew.
- Oh, that is - Nice things, I hope.
What else would she hear from me? ROBERTS Please.
I can't say.
It's been such a long time.
Who knows what you think of me now.
I think I'm very glad to see you looking so well.
All right.
You win.
We are at peace again.
- Have you found something nice? - Why, particularly? As a welcome home, for Mr Matthew.
Oh, what's the matter? I thought you'd come round to him.
Last time he was here, he hadn't broken Lady Mary's heart.
Lady Mary broke her own heart.
Hmm! That's if she has a heart to break.
I don't think we're ever going to see eye to eye on this, Mrs Hughes.
She refused him when she thought he'd have nothing.
And when he was heir again she wanted him back.
I thought caution was a virtue.
Caution maybe.
Self-interest is not.
Perhaps Miss Swire is a gentler person.
If you ask me, this "Miss Swire", who, it may interest you to know, is not to be found in Burke's Peerage or Burke's Landed Gentry, has an eye to the main chance.
Well, that's not snobbish, I suppose? I like to see things done properly, Mrs Hughes.
And I won't apologise for that.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
- What is it? - The white feather, of course.
Coward! Stop this at once! This is neither the time nor the place! These people should be aware that there are cowards among them.
Will you please leave! You are the cowards here, not they! Leader, will you continue.
- I'm in a uniform.
- Wrong kind.
That was horrid, William.
I hope you won't let it upset you.
No, Your Ladyship.
Why are these women so unkind? Of course it is horrid, when heroes are giving their lives every day, it's hard to watch healthy young men do nothing.
By the way, Sybil, very good news, they do have a vacancy.
It's very short notice because someone dropped out.
You'd have to be ready to start on Friday.
May I ask what this is about? Cousin Isobel has got me a place on a nursing course in York.
I want to work at the hospital.
We don't have to talk about it now.
She just turned up at my mother's house.
Not long before she died.
So, what does it mean? I think it means, at long last, I'm able to get a divorce.
Mr Bates, is this a proposal? If that's what you want to call it.
And you might start calling me John.
Well, why are you sure she'll do it now when she's refused for so long? Mother left me some money, much more than I thought.
Vera's a greedy woman.
She won't refuse what I can offer her.
- Will we have to leave Downton? - Not until we want to.
I've spoken to His Lordship and he will find a cottage for us near the house.
- You told him you want to marry me? - I did.
Before you spoke to me? - You don't mind, do you? - Of course I mind! In fact, I'd give you a smack if I didn't want to kiss you so much I could burst! Branson says I'm ready for the road.
That's not what he told me.
How delicious.
I love these.
How did you and Matthew meet? Oh, in London.
My father works in London, so I've always lived there.
But I love the country, too.
Of course you do.
Daddy's a solicitor, like Matthew.
My, my.
You're very well placed if you're ever in trouble with the law.
Did I tell you I've given me a colonelcy in the North Riding Volunteers? So I'm properly in the army again.
Hmm.
Congratulations.
He won't go with them, will he, when they're called to the front? I hope not, but he seems to think so.
What's it been like? Do you know, the thing is I just can't talk about it.
Have you missed us? What do you think? You don't mind my bringing Lavinia? On the contrary, I'm glad.
Glad to see you happy.
What about you? Are you happy? I think I'm about to be happy.
Does that count? It does if you mean it.
You'll be the first to know.
What are you reading? Photoplay about Mabel Normand.
She was nothing when she started, you know.
Her father was a carpenter and they'd no money.
And now she's a shining film star.
Ethel, I've a message for you from Her Ladyship.
You're to go up and see her now.
What? Where? In the drawing room, of course.
They're all in the drawing room.
What have I done wrong? Nothing.
Quite the reverse.
She's very pleased with the way you've begun and she wants to thank you.
Now? Yes, now.
She's asked for you.
How much longer are you gonna keep her waiting? I don't know much about life in the country, but I do understand how the law works, so I believe I can be helpful to Matthew there.
But you'll be immensely helpful.
- Don't you think so, Mary? - Of course.
Beg pardon, milady, for keeping you waiting.
What? I'm ever so grateful for your appreciation and I want you to Know that it's a privilege to work here.
Ethel, what are you doing in here? Her Her Ladyship sent for me.
And who gave you this message? Miss O'Brien.
She said I wasn't to keep Her Ladyship waiting.
You may go back downstairs now, thank you, Ethel.
Right.
Thank you, milady.
Well Do we think she's mad? III? Or working for the Russians? She has plenty of time to learn.
Cousin Robert will be in charge here for many years.
Lavinia will be a lawyer's wife far longer than she'll be a Countess.
That's if I get through the war in one piece.
Of course you will.
Don't even think like that.
How long are you staying in the village? Just tomorrow.
I take the six o'clock train on Thursday.
And then you'll be in France.
Wherever I'm going, I'm so pleased that we're friends again.
I still don't understand why it was funny to make me look a fool.
You weren't even there to enjoy it.
Well, don't worry.
We enjoyed it all right from down here.
Miss O'Brien, Her Ladyship has asked me to take the incident no further.
Don't tempt me to disobey.
Did I see Lady Sybil in the kitchen yesterday? She wants to learn some cooking.
She says she's gonna train to be a nurse, so she needs to know how to cook and clean and everything.
Has she told Her Ladyship about this? It's supposed to be a surprise.
Mr Carson, it speaks well of Lady Sybil that she wants to help the wounded.
Let's not give her away.
Why shouldn't she learn how to cook and scrub? She may need it when the war's over.
Things are changing.
For her lot and us.
And when they do I mean to make the most of it.
I take it they ate all the pancakes last night, then? They did.
Here you are! ISOBEL What are we aiming at? They'd like us to take a hundred wounded men.
Three times the number the hospital was built for.
Well, that settles it.
We'll have to convert the second day room.
So, there's to be no convalescence at all? I'm afraid not.
Once they can stand, they must go.
If only there was somewhere nearer than Farley Hall.
I can't get there more than twice a week at the most.
Ah, should he be doing that? - Why not? - I only meant with his condition.
What condition is that? His lungs.
Old Lady Grantham told me he's had a lot of trouble with his lungs.
And why did she tell you that, particularly? She wanted me to write to the War Office.
She was anxious to spare him the humiliation of being refused on medical grounds.
And who else did she wish you to take under your protection? William Mason, the footman at the big house.
He has a bad skin condition, apparently, and hates people to know.
She wanted to spare him the physical examination.
I'm sure she did.
What in Wonderland do you call that? I mean, I do not fully understand what you are trying to do, milady.
Oh, I knew it wasn't supposed to look like this.
No, milady.
I would go so far as to say there is no food on the earth that is supposed to look like that! Why does everything go so lumpy? Tell you what.
Chuck it out and we'll start again.
I don't think we should sell your mother's house.
Not yet.
We could rent it out.
Then we can save.
When I've some time off, I'll go up to London and get it ready.
Maybe I can come with you.
We could do it together.
I've got an idea that a bit later on, if we want to If we want to start a family.
I thought, when the time is right, we might sell.
And we could buy a small hotel.
Just Just a little one, maybe near here.
Then we could work together and have the children with us.
- What is it? - Nothing.
it's just In my whole life, I never thought I could be as happy as I am at this moment.
Don't worry.
I haven't come to undo your good work of the other night.
You must have been up before the servants.
They were rather surprised to see me.
I wanted to give you this.
It's my lucky charm.
I've had it always.
So you must promise to bring it back, without a scratch.
- Won't you need it? - Not as much as you.
So look after it.
Please.
I'll try not to be a hero, if that's what you're afraid of.
Just come back, safe and sound.
Did you have a happy time yesterday? I showed Lavinia the places I like most.
To give her a few memories.
Mary, if I don't come back - But - No.
If I don't Then do remember how very glad I am that we made up when we had the chance.
I mean it.
You send me off to war a happy man.
Will you do something for me? Will you Will you look after Mother? - If anything happens.
- Of course we will.
But it won't.
And Lavinia? She's young, she'll find someone else.
I hope she does, anyway.
Until she does.
Goodbye, then.
And such good luck.
Goodbye, Mary.
And God bless you.
Lady Mary was very much part of the story, I can assure you.
But how do you know? Well, you see, I worked for Lady Flintshire Ethel! I hope you've offered our visitor some tea.
I'll go and ask Daisy.
What is the first law of service? We do not discuss the business of this house with strangers.
But she's not a stranger.
She's Mr Bates' wife.
Has anyone told him she's here? So you're Anna.
I am.
You're the one who went to call on my late, lamented mother-in-law.
Yes.
I did.
I know you did.
Sorry to keep you waiting, Vera.
I was up in the attics, sorting out some cupboards.
Don't worry.
I've been having a nice time here with Ethel and Miss Smith.
Mr Bates, Ethel told me about your visitor, so I've had the tea put in my sitting room.
I thought you might take Mrs Bates in there.
That's very thoughtful.
It is.
But then you're all so kind.
I'm beginning to understand why my Batesy's got so spoiled.
I'm sorry to trouble you, milady.
What is it, Carson? Something has been going on and I don't feel quite easy that you've not been made aware of it.
Goodness.
What is this dark secret? Lady Sybil has spent the last two days in the kitchens.
What? She asked Mrs Patmore for some cooking lessons.
Now, steady.
Even the most experienced cook can burn themself if they're not careful.
- Do you think it's ready? - I know it's ready.
Go on.
You don't want to spoil it.
It seems she's made a cake for Your Ladyship, as a surprise.
But I'm uneasy with surprises at the best of times and I wonder if the whole exercise is entirely appropriate.
Ta-dah! No, I'm not comfortable with this, milady.
I'm not comfortable at all.
I was worried about Lady Sybil, but I'm not worried any more.
So you don't mind, milady? No.
I do not mind.
And I'm very grateful to you.
And, Carson, the cake will be a surprise whether you approve or not.
So please don't give me away.
Oh, no! - Sit down.
- I don't want to sit down.
Suit yourself.
Look, I'm not saying it's all your fault for how things were between us.
But I couldn't go back to that.
I'll take the blame.
I'll go to some hotel in Malton with a tart.
So why hold on? Because I tried it on my own and I don't like it.
You've got money now.
We'll be comfortable.
You're out of your mind! What makes you think that I would allow that to happen? You went to prison for me once.
I must say this is very good.
Does Lord Grantham have his own blend? - Is that all? - Not quite.
You see, if you don't come back to me, I'm going to the newspapers with a cracking story.
And I'd like to bet the Granthams won't survive it.
Oh? And what nonsense is this? The nonsense I heard when I used your name to get a job with Lady Flintshire.
- His Lordship's cousin - I know who Lady Flintshire is.
Well, when I arrived, her maid asked me if it was true.
About Lady Mary Crawley and the Turkish diplomat.
They thought I'd know, you see.
Being your wife.
I hope you told them you knew nothing about it.
Oh, as if.
I said, "Why don't you tell me what you think you Know, and I'll tell you if it's true?" Goodness me.
Wasn't my patience rewarded? The public's bored with the war, you see? They like gossip.
And a diplomat dying in the bed of an earl's unmarried daughter, well, that takes the ticket for the tale of the year.
- It's a pack of lies! - I assume that's loyalty and not ignorance.
Because, you see, I heard that Lady Mary needed her maid to help her carry him.
And, yes, you've guessed it.
Your precious Anna's going to figure in the story, too.
Not to worry too much.
It's not a criminal of fence, is it? Just a social one.
- You bitch! - Please.
Be my guest.
But then you must excuse me while I run into town and have it photographed.
- What do you want from me? - Firstly, you'll hand in your notice.
Tonight.
I'll put up at the pub in the village.
- And what reason do I give? - You don't need a reason.
Just tell them that you're going.
Then tomorrow we head back to London.
We'll stay in your mother's house for the time being, till we get ourselves sorted.
And in case you're wondering, whatever my future plans may be, they all involve you.
Bates, when you first came here, I fought to keep you! Everyone was against me, everyone, from Her Ladyship to Carson! They thought I was mad! But I said to them, "After all that we've been through together, Bates and I, I owe him my loyalty!" I appreciate that, milord, but But what? But loyalty doesn't matter to you.
It does matter, milord.
Not enough to make you change your mind! Not even enough to make you stay - until I've found a replacement! - I can't.
You won't take any more money off me! You leave empty-handed! I don't want money, milord.
I'm sorry, Bates.
That was a low shot.
Of course you can have whatever is owing to you.
I thought we were friends, that's all.
I thought we'd crossed the great divide successfully.
Well, well.
I've had my say.
it's your life.
But you've disappointed me, Bates.
I cannot remember being more disappointed in any man.
I don't believe it.
You say my life is over and your wife will collect you first thing and that's it? Have you mentioned this to anyone else? Only Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes.
- The others can find out when I've gone.
- I know you've not told me the real reason.
You're wrong.
Vera has reminded me that I'm a married man.
That I must give my vows another chance.
I had no right to involve you in my life.
Yes, but you see that's just what I don't agree with.
You had every right.
I know you.
You're doing something gallant here.
Making a sacrifice for my honour.
But I don't want you to.
I don't care.
Don't you understand? I don't care what people say.
I'd live in sin with you! Look, if she's threatening to ruin me then let her! it's nothing to me! The only ruin that I recognise is to be without you! Forget me, and be happy.
Please.
I couldn't.
Not ever.
You should and you must.
I am nothing.
William? I thought everyone had gone up.
I'm just looking for that magazine Ethel were reading.
I hope you've noticed I'm not scared of electricity any more.
Well, not much.
I couldn't touch a switch when it were only upstairs.
But I've got used to it now.
I hate to see you like this.
Even though I'm a dirty coward? You're not.
Not to me.
But why don't I enlist? I could.
I know, I promised my dad.
But he's not my owner, he's not the law.
Am I frightened? Is that it? Honestly.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
NO One wants to goto War.
Oh, I wish you'd cheer up.
Please.
I'd do anything to cheer you up.
Like what? Like this.
You just feel sorry for me.
William, I've kissed you.
You've wanted me to long enough.
Well, now I have.
Enjoy it.
Does this mean you'll be my girl? Daisy, 'cause if you were my girl, I know I could tackle anything.
But we were supposed to be at rest for ten days at least.
The orders arrived this morning, sir.
The King's Own were hit bad.
So they're out and we're in.
They've been shelling the trench since we got here.
Anybody hurt? Rankin's dead and Kent and Corporal Wright was hit.
Thank God the stretcher bearers were there.
- Let's see what the damage is now.
- Sir! - All right? - Morning, sir.
LOOK out! Thomas? It is Thomas, isn't it? Corporal Barrow now, Mr Crawley.
You'll never guess where I've just been.
Where's Anna? She's not feeling very well today, Your Ladyship.
I've taken over for the time being.
Oh, that's so kind of you.
Just make sure Lady Sybil packs things she can get in and out of without a maid.
Oh, I don't need that.
I'd never wear it.
But you must have something decent.
Suppose you're invited to dinner? I know this is hard for you to grasp, but I'm not there to go out to dinner.
I'm there to learn.
Take one.
Just in case.
We'll miss you.
Don't be silly.
It's only two months.
- And I'll come home if I can.
Why don't I drive you? She's taking enough chance with her life as it is.
Oh, Granny.
What is this driving mania? It'll be useful.
They won't let a healthy man drive us around for much longer.
And if Sybil can be a nurse, why can't I be a chauffeur? Well, I shall leave you.
I have been summoned by Cousin Isobel for tea.
Goodbye, Sybil.
And good luck with it all.
Thank you for being such a sport.
It's a big step you're taking, dear, but war deals out strange tasks.
Remember your great-aunt Roberta.
What about her? She loaded the guns at Lucknow.
I'll come with you.
I'll tell William to fetch the bags.
The first of you to leave the nest.
Poor Mama.
She always feels these things so dreadfully.
That's her American blood.
I'm so glad we've settled everything with cousin Matthew.
Aren't you, Mary? Oh, please, stop treading on eggshells I have other fish to fry.
I make no apology.
It would be a terrible thing if poor old Mr Molesley's son were killed.
- Wouldn't it, Molesley? - I'm sure it would, but And then I heard William's father would be left on his own if anything happened to the boy.
And what would have become of Carson if the last of his staff were to go? - That's not the point.
- Do you want Molesley to die? - Of course I don't! - Well I don't want my own son to die either! But this is a war and we must be in it together.
High and low, rich and poor.
There can be no special cases, because every man at the front is a special case to someone.
Mrs Crawley is right.
I understand your motives, Lady Grantham, - and I do not criticize them.
- Thank you.
But I shall write to the Ministry at once, correcting the misinformation.
Good day.
I'll see myself out.
Molesley, you understand why I said what I did? Indeed, I do, ma'am.
You won't be called up at once.
Not while there are younger men to be taken.
But they'll get you in the end, Molesley.
And you can blame Mrs Crawley when they do! I wish you'd stop working for one minute.
At least put the light on, or you'll strain your eyes.
It's getting dark so early now.
- Has she gone? - She has.
So, we've lost Mr Bates and Lady Sybil in one day.
I can't believe it.
I suppose I'll have to look after His Lordship now, on top of everything else.
And I don't want any jokes about broomsticks and sweeping the floor.
His Lordship's got his regimental dinner in Richmond tonight.
- That means he'll be in the full fig.
- Mmm.
You'll manage.
You know, when Mr Bates first came to this house, I thought he could never do the work.
But now I can't imagine the place without him.
Did you see this coming? Because I didn't.
I have a confession.
I let them have their tea in my sitting room.
That was nice of you.
It was quite nice.
But I had my reasons.
There's a grating on the wall, which means you can hear what's being said in the room.
Now, if I was a gentleman, I wouldn't want to know.
- But you're not.
- Fortunately.
It'll be hard to let you go.
My last link with home.
Not as hard as it is for me.
- Branson - I know I shouldn't say it, - but I can't keep it in any longer.
- I wish you would.
I've told myself and told myself you're too far above me, but things are changing.
When the war is over, the world won't be the same place as it was when it started.
And I'll make something of myself, I promise.
- I know you will.
- Then bet on me.
And if your family casts you off, it won't be forever.
They'll come around.
And until they do, I promise to devote every waking minute to your happiness.
I'm terribly flattered.
- Don't say that.
- Why not? Because "flattered" is a word posh people use when they're getting ready to say no.
That sounds more like you.
- Please don't make fun of me.
- No.
It's cost me all I've got to say these things.
Right.
I'll go.
I'll hand in my notice and I won't be there when you get back.
- No, don't do that.
- I must.
They won't let me stay when they've heard what I've said.
They won't hear.
Not from me.
Bloody hell.
There must be more to life than this.
You all right, Corporal? I think so.
Yeah, more or less.
My God.
They won't believe it back home where I come from.
I thought, "Medical Corps.
"Not much danger there.
" How wrong can one man be? Here.
I think it comes down to luck.
If the bullet's got your name on it, there's nothing you can do.
If not, then thank God you were lucky Get these bodies away! Come on, Corporal Barrow.
I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be here tonight, sir.
We are very pleased to have you here, Grantham.
You see, just to know I'm with you all, to sense that I belong here.
Well, it's as simple as this.
I no longer feel like a fraud.
Mr Molesley? What are you doing here? I was waiting to see you, Doctor.
How can I help? It's just I was wondering whether you'd written that letter.
The one you spoke of this afternoon.
To the War Office? Not yet.
I'm sorry you were involved in all that.
I should have checked with you first before I interfered.
Well, that's just it.
You see, I think if you had checked with me, you'd have found exactly what Lady Grantham described.
- I don't quite - I have trouble with my lungs, um I get so breathless sometimes, and I've noticed it's getting worse.
They haven't written to William yet, the Ministry I mean, but they have discharged me.
Won't it just make extra work for them to have to fail me all over again? Very well.
I shall correct my statement as regards William, but make no mention of you.
Thank you, Doctor.
It's all right.
But, Molesley, I hope you will help the war effort.
In other ways.
Yeah, of course.
When might the regiment be wanted, sir? The talk at dinner suggested it would be soon.
Oh, pretty soon, I'd say.
Well, I'm as ready now as I'll ever be.
- For what? - To go to France with the regiment.
Why would you do that? Because I'm their Colonel, of course.
Well, there must be some use for me over there.
My dear fellow, we're not as heartless as that! The position's only an honorary one.
Nobody expects you to go to war.
An honorary one? We thought it'd cheer things up a bit to have the Lord Lieutenant at our table.
And so it does.
We're very glad to welcome you here.
I see.
We old codgers have our work cut out for us, keeping spirits high at home.
- Someone must.
- Oh, indeed, sir.
Is that Taxi Cavendish? I must catch him before I go.
So Lady Sybil got off all right in the end.
I'm afraid we have to admit she knows what she wants.
Yes.
She certainly does.
I don't suppose the war will leave any of us alone by the time it's done.
I'd a letter from Thomas the other day.
He writes that when he thinks about how things used to be, it seems like a dream.
It's not much more than two years ago, but he says it might as well be a century.
So you hear from Thomas.
Is he well? Please give him my regards.
He's well enough, milady.
But I don't think he'd mind coming home.
Oh, how I wish he could, O'Brien Of course, if Bates hadn't been so bloody selfish, he would have let us plan for his departure properly.
Your Lordship, I have information that I have no proper claim to.
Well? What is it? Well, if Your Lordship can assure me that you will Keep it to yourself I promise, Carson, You can drop the last veil.
Well, I feel it only right to tell you that Mr Bates' leaving was not selfish.
- Quite the reverse.
- It felt selfish to me.
As for the wretched Anna, bedizened with dishonest promises Mr Bates left because, had he not done so, his wife was planning to engulf this house in scandal.
Scandal? What scandal? The point is, milord, Mrs Bates would have made Downton notorious.
The price of her silence was her husband's return.
But I must know what story she was planning to tell.
I'm sorry, milord, I could not speak of it without injuring you and betraying myself.
But you are saying that Bates fell on his sword to protect the reputation of my family? Ethel? What are you doing? Oh, seeing to the plugs for the night.
What? Polishing the electric plugs and checking them for vapours.
And why are you doing this? Because you were too busy.
She said you usually did it, but could I manage it tonight.
And "she", I take it, would be Miss O'Brien? Goto bed, Ethel.
And next time she gives you an order, ask me first.
Is anything the matter? Nothing.
Except that today has shown me I'm not only a worthless man, but also a bad-tempered and ungrateful one.
Well, we all know that.
Can I help? I wonder how Sybil's feeling.
The war's reaching its long fingers into Downton and scattering our chicks.
But I'm glad we made peace with Matthew.
I agree.
Let us thank Sir Richard Carlisle for distracting Mary at just the right moment.
By the way, she wants him to come and stay so we can all meet him.
She wants us to invite a hawker of newspaper scandal to stay as a guest in this house? It's lucky I have a sense of irony.
Not you, too.
What's the matter? Why ask? You don't care.
Ethel Perhaps if you stopped going on about all the marvellous things you're going to do when you leave service.
But you've got to have dreams.
Don't you have any dreams? Of course I do.
Big dreams.
It's just that I know now they won't be coming true.
- What do you want? - I think I left my book in here.
Is that all? You were praying.
Don't be ridiculous.
You were praying.
What were you praying for? Please go.
I'm tired.
Dear Lord, I don't pretend to have much credit with you.
I'm not even sure that you're there.
But if you are, and if I've ever done anything good, I beg you to keep him safe.
You look very comfortable there, Corporal.
Would you like some, sir? We've got condensed milk and sugar.
I won't ask how you managed that.
Go on, sir.
That's nectar.
Are you sure you can spare it? Gladly, if we can talk about the old days and forget about all this for a minute or two.
Do you ever hear from anyone? Oh, yes.
Miss O'Brien keeps me informed.
Lady Edith's driving.
Lady Sybil's training as a nurse.
Miss O'Brien tells me the hospital's busier than ever, with the wounded coming in.
- Is that true? - Certainly is.
They had a concert when I was there to raise extra funds.
I'm curious, sir.
Do you think I could ever get a transfer back to the hospital? Seeing as it's war work.
Well, you'd have to be sent home from the front first.
And then you might have to pull a few strings.
Thank you for that.
Thank you very much.
What would my mother say? Me, entertaining the future Earl of Grantham to tea.
War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter, and the things that don't.
Thank you.
Thank you for my deliverance.