MARTHA: Sure. If you think it’s worth it. So who’s coming to dinner next week?
CORA: Some locals. We thought you’d like to see Downton on parade.
Violet catches Mary’s eye.
MARY: That’s right, Grandmama. I’m glad we’ve planned a dinner. We can show you the real point of Downton.
25 INT. HALL. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Robert, Matthew and Strallan come out of the dining room.
ROBERT: I wonder if I could ask you to come into the library for a moment.
They start towards the library, but Robert turns to Matthew.
ROBERT (CONT’D): Tell Carson and Alfred they can go downstairs. We’ll serve ourselves when we get in there.
In other words, Matthew has been ordered to leave them alone.
26 INT. SERVANTS’ HALL. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Reed is reading, while Daisy lays the table. Some of the others are there when Alfred and Carson enter, talking.
ALFRED: I don’t know what to say, Mr Carson.
O’BRIEN: What’s going on here?
CARSON: Alfred has embarrassed the family. He forced Mr Matthew to appear downstairs improperly dressed.
O’BRIEN: Oh, you make it sound quite exciting.
CARSON: I will not tolerate vulgarity, thank you, Miss O’Brien.
ANNA: I’m sure Alfred didn’t mean to, Mr Carson.
ALFRED: I asked Thomas how to get a mark —
THOMAS: Oi, oi. What’s this?
ALFRED: The stuff you gave me to clean the tails burned a hole in them.
THOMAS: No such thing. I gave you some soda crystals, that’s all. If you used them wrongly, it’s not my fault. This is what comes of making him run before he could walk.
This last is directed at a seething O’Brien.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
27 INT. LIBRARY. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Strallan is with an awkward Robert.
STRALLAN: If you want me to stay away from her, of course I will.
ROBERT: I know it sounds harsh —
STRALLAN: Please, Robert. I understand completely. Lady Edith is your daughter and you don’t want her involved with some cripple who is far too old.
ROBERT: Now you’re the one who’s harsh.
STRALLAN: The trouble is, she calls round regularly. I can hardly ask for her not to be admitted… I suppose I could write to her. Yes, that’s it.
ROBERT: If things were different —
STRALLAN: If I were twenty years younger and had the use of all my limbs?
ROBERT: I hope you won’t feel we can’t be friends after this.
STRALLAN: But let’s leave it for a while. I’ll duck out of the dinner next week.
ROBERT: It might be best. Thank you.36
28 INT. HOUSEMAIDS’ CLEANING CUPBOARD. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Alfred and O’Brien are staring at the bottle on the shelves.
O’BRIEN: That’s the one you should have taken. Soda crystals.
ALFRED: But he didn’t give me that. He pointed to this one. I promise.
O’BRIEN: You don’t have to promise. I believe you.
ALFRED: Why would he do such a thing?
O’BRIEN: I don’t know why, but I know he’ll be sorry. That I can promise.
O’Brien walks away.
29 INT. ROBERT’S DRESSING ROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Thomas is helping Robert into his night clothes.
ROBERT: So you think he’s not ready?
THOMAS: He’s just a lad, m’lord. He can see to the odd visitor, but permanent valet to Mr Matthew? It’s too much.
ROBERT: Actually, I’m pretty sure Mr Crawley would rather manage on his own.
THOMAS: They wouldn’t like that downstairs, m’lord.
ROBERT: I was afraid you’d say that… So what would you suggest?
THOMAS: Ask Mr Molesley to join us. It’d be kinder to Alfred in the long run… Kinder than asking more than he can give.
30 INT. MARY’S BEDROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Matthew comes in, in a dressing gown. Mary is in bed.
MARY: How is that poor footman? I thought Carson was going to eat him alive.
MATTHEW: Very glum. To be honest, he has been a clot. I’ll have to send the coat up to London.
MARY: Well, get it done quickly. This dinner has to be the grandest of the grand.37
MATTHEW: What do you hope to show her?
MARY: Why Downton matters. Why it mustn’t be allowed to fall apart.
MATTHEW: Hasn’t Cora had her share of the Levinson gold? I thought what was left was headed for your uncle.
MARY: It’s not so laid down in America. He’s as rich as Croesus as it is.38
MATTHEW: So you mean to fleece her?
MARY: Since you’re the one to get us out of this hole if you wanted to, I won’t take any criticism, thank you.
MATTHEW: Will she do it?
MARY: Granny means to make her, or die in the attempt. Now stop talking and kiss me, before I get cross.
Which he does.
31 INT. MRS HUGHES’S SITTING ROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Mrs Patmore is with Mrs Hughes.
MRS PATMORE: At least it’s not long to wait.
MRS HUGHES: Not before I have the test, but how long after that?
MRS PATMORE: Well, you heard him. With any luck, you’ll know at once.
She breaks off at the sound of Carson’s arrival.
CARSON: I wish you could get those maids under control. They’ve broken one of the serving dishes this time, and we’ve the dinner next week.
MRS HUGHES: We’re short of a footman, we’re short of a kitchen maid and one house maid at least. That’s if Anna is to be a proper lady’s maid, which is what Lady Mary wants.
CARSON: Well, naturally, she likes things done properly —
MRS HUGHES: Oh, for heaven’s sake, we can’t do things properly until either his lordship allows us the staff we need, or until you and the blessed Lady Mary come down from that cloud and join the human race!39
CARSON: I can only suppose that you are overtired. I bid you goodnight.
MRS PATMORE: You see, she’s —
MRS HUGHES: Goodnight, Mr Carson. We will discuss the dinner in the morning.
He nods and goes. Mrs Patmore opens her mouth, but…
MS HUGHES (CONT’D): And no, Mrs Patmore, you may not tell him.
32 INT. SERVANTS’ HALL/PASSAGE. DOWNTON. DAY.
O’Brien is in there. Alfred enters. Carson sees him return.
CARSON: Have you finished with Mr Matthew?
ALFRED: I have. He’s in the dining room.
CARSON: Very good. You won’t need to attend to him again. Mr Molesley will be coming up from the village.
ALFRED: Has Mr Matthew complained?
CARSON: He didn’t have to. It’s not your fault. We’ve hurried you along too fast. You mustn’t feel badly.
He walks out of the room. O’Brien whispers to her nephew.
O’BRIEN: This is Thomas’s doing… But don’t you fret. I’ll make him sorry.
Alfred goes into the passage. He sags back against the wall.
REED: I’m on your side.
ALFRED: I’m glad somebody is.
Before he knows it, she leans over and kisses him. Then she hurries away, giggling. This has all been witnessed by Daisy.
33 INT. DINING ROOM. DOWNTON. DAY.
Matthew is eating breakfast with Edith when Robert comes in.
ROBERT: No Mary?
MATTHEW: She says she’s a married woman now, so she can have breakfast in bed.40
Robert finds the letters, gives one to Edith and serves himself.
ROBERT: I’m sorry about your tails.
MATTHEW: Carson’s sending them up on the London train this morning. They’ll have to put a new panel in.
ROBERT: We thought we’d get Molesley to come and look after you. He knows your ways.
MATTHEW: Well, I’d be perfectly happy —
Carson
glances at Robert to stiffen his resolve.
ROBERT: I think it’s better if he comes.
CARSON: I do need to talk to you about the other staff we need, m’lord —
ROBERT: Not now, Carson. But you may send for Molesley, if Mrs Crawley has no objection… Edith?
EDITH: Oh, Papa! How could you!
She has burst into tears and now she runs out.
MATTHEW: Golly. Do you know what that was?
ROBERT: I’m afraid I probably do.
34 INT. DRAWING ROOM. DOWNTON. DAY.
Mary is with Cora, who is sewing a tapestry on her knee.
CORA: I’m sorry, but quite enough of my father’s money has already been poured into Downton. Why should Harold lose half his inheritance because of our folly?
MARY: So it’s all Papa’s fault?
CORA: Well, it isn’t my mother’s and it isn’t my brother’s, and I don’t see why they should pay for it.
MARY: We’re still going to ask.
CORA: What are you so afraid of? If we sell, we move to a smaller house and a more modest estate. We don’t have to go down the mines.
MARY: You don’t understand.
CORA: Mary, this is 1920. The world has changed. A lot of people live in smaller houses than they used to.
MARY: Which only goes to show that you’re American and I am English. I shall be Countess of Grantham one day and, in my book, the Countess of Grantham lives at Downton Abbey.
CORA: Your father told me about Matthew’s expectations from Mr Swire.
MARY: He refuses to keep any of it. He thinks it would be stealing.
CORA: How frustrating for you, my dear. Two fortunes just out of reach.
MARY: Then I shall have to stretch a little harder, won’t I, Mama?41
35 INT. SALVATION ARMY HALL. YORK. DAY.
Isobel’s interviewing a woman. The rest sit round the hall.
ISOBEL: What job might you be suited to…? Because we’re not simply here to give you food. We need to try to find a place for you in the world.
But she is distracted. A nervous young woman (Ethel Parks) has come into the hall. Isobel stands and walks over to her.
ISOBEL (CONT’D): Do you want to speak to me?
ETHEL: Yes, Mrs Crawley. I do.
ISOBEL: How do you know my name?
But her visitor will not answer that one.
ISOBEL (CONT’D): Have you come for our help? You’re very welcome if you have.
But the other woman just shakes her head.
ETHEL: I’m past help, ma’am.
ISOBEL: Nobody is past help. Wait a minute. I know you. You were the maid who brought your child into the dining room at Downton that time.42
ETHEL: I’m sorry. This has been a mistake. I thought I was ready to ask you… but I’m not. I’m not ready.
ISOBEL: Wait a minute. Ask me what? Oh, please stay.
But she has frightened Ethel away. She returns to the table.
ISOBEL (CONT’D): Now, where were we? Oh, yes. We have to find something for you to do… I presume you do realise that we can’t really recommend returning to your old line of work.
She doesn’t seem to be making much of an impression.
36. INT. CLARKSON’S CONSULTING ROOMS. DOWNTON VILLAGE. DAY.
Clarkson enters to find Mrs Hughes and Mrs Patmore.
CLARKSON: I’m sorry to keep you waiting, ladies. The fact is, it’s not quite as simple —
MRS PATMORE: Oh, my God.
MRS HUGHES: Mrs Patmore, will you please leave the hysteria to me.
CLARKSON: I’m afraid the test was inconclusive. I had hoped that the fluid from the cyst would be clear, but there are traces of blood in it. Not enough to confirm the presence of cancer, but a little too much to exclude it.
MRS HUGHES: So what happens now?
CLARKSON: I send it away for analysis. And this stage will take some time.
MRS PATMORE: How much time?
CLARKSON: Anything up to two months.
MRS PATMORE: Oh, my —
But Mrs Hughes silences her with a glance. She stands.
CLARKSON: Until then, please try to take it a little more easily. Sit down and put your feet up, if you can.
MRS PATMORE: Chance’d be a fine thing.
CLARKSON: Would you like me to say something to Lady Grantham?
MRS HUGHES: No, thank you, Doctor. I’ll speak to her myself, if I need to. Thank you.43
37 EXT. GARDENS. DOWNTON. DAY.
Robert is walking Isis when he hears crying and finds Edith weeping on a bench, in Martha’s arms.
ROBERT: My darling girl. What’s this?
MARTHA: I think you know what it is, since you asked Sir Anthony to write.
Robert comes and sits next to them.
ROBERT: Edith, you do understand that I only ever want what’s best for you?
EDITH: And you’re the judge of that.
ROBERT: In this, I think I am.
EDITH: Sybil marries a chauffeur and you welcome him to Downton. But when I’m in love with a gentleman, you cast him into the outer darkness.
MARTHA: She has a point, Robert.
ROBERT: Strallan is certainly a gentleman —
MARTHA: Well, besides which, Edith tells me he has a house, he has money, he has a title — everything that you care about.
ROBERT: You make me sound very shallow.
EDITH: Aren’t you? When you make me give him up because he has a bad arm?
ROBERT: Oh, it’s not the only reason. He’s a quarter of a century too old. Did she tell you that?
His tone with his mother-in-law is quite harsh.
MARTHA: Your daughter is sad and lonely, Robert. Now, I don’t mean to interfere but —
ROBERT: Don’t you?
EDITH: If you ban him from Downton, I’ll only go to his house. I mean it.
ROBERT: I don’t believe he’d see you.
EDITH: Then I’ll just wait outside until he does.
MARTHA: I presume you’re not anxious for her to catch pneumonia?
ROBERT: Of course not.
EDITH: How can you not like him because of his age? When almost every young man we grew up with is dead! Do you want me to spend my life alone?
ROBERT: I didn’t say I don’t like him. I like him very much.
EDITH: So do I, Papa. Oh, so do I.
Edith gets up and takes her father’s hand.
EDITH (CONT’D): Please ask him back. He writes he’s not coming to Mama’s dinner, but please make him. Please, please, please.
MARTHA: Please?
He looks at them both and gives a weary sigh.
ROBERT: Oh, all right, then.44
38 INT. YORK PRISON VISITING CELL. DAY.
Anna is with Bates.
ANNA: I’ve found Mrs Bartlett. I wrote back to the tenant of her old house, explaining, and they’ve sent me a forwarding address. I don’t know why they didn’t before.
BATES: Just because you know where she is doesn’t mean she’ll talk to you.
ANNA: Why not?
BATES: Audrey Bartlett was the nearest thing Vera had to a friend.45
ANNA: That’s why I want to meet her.
BATES: Maybe, but when she looks at you, she won’t see the real Anna Bates.
ANNA: She doesn’t have to like me. I need her to be honest. I’m going to write and ask for a meeting. I can get to London and back in a day.
BATES: She won’t agree.
ANNA: I’ve the rent from the house so I can make it worth her while… Why do you think Vera didn’t go and see her instead of sending that letter?
BATES: What do you mean?
ANNA: When Vera was frightened about your visit, she wrote that letter, saying how scared she was, instead of walking round to see her friend.
BATES: Maybe she did both… So, what’s the news at home?
ANNA: I shouldn’t tell you, really. I haven’t told any of the others. It’s breaking the code of a lady’s maid.46
BAT
ES: Which is what you are now.
ANNA: No, I’m not. Not properly… His lordship’s in trouble. It seems they may have to sell.
BATES: What? Sell Downton?
She is silent and simply nods as the news sinks in.
BATES (CONT’D): That makes me sad. I wouldn’t have thought there was much that could touch me in here, but that does.
ANNA: Lady Mary thinks her ladyship’s mother might save them…
BATES: But you don’t agree?
ANNA: The rich don’t stay rich by giving away their money, do they?
BATES: They do not.47
39 EXT. DOWNTON. EVE.
Molesley is running up the drive.
40 INT. MATTHEW’S DRESSING ROOM. DOWNTON. EVE.
Matthew is putting on a shirt when Molesley knocks and bursts in.
MOLESLEY: It’s never come. They promised and promised, and I thought it was sure to be on the seven o’clock. But it’s not.
MATTHEW: Well, I’ll just have to wear black tie.
MOLESLEY: But Lady Mary, she’ll —
MATTHEW: These things don’t matter as much as they did. Lady Mary knows that as well as anyone.48
41 INT. MRS LEVINSON’S BEDROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Martha Levinson is finishing being dressed by Reed.
REED: They think you’re going to bail them out.
MARTHA: When are they planning to ask me?
REED: That’s what this evening’s about. To show you the glorious past that must not die.
MARTHA: But you and I belong to the new world, Reed, and not the old. Where we come from, we look forward.
REED: I thank heaven for it, ma’am.
MARTHA: Now iron that shirt for the morning and bring breakfast at eight on the dot. You were late, today.49
42 INT. BEDROOM PASSAGE. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
As Reed walks down the passage she sees O’Brien ducking out of a door, with something wrapped inside a linen cover…
43 INT. HALL/DINING ROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.
Carson has opened the door to Violet.
VIOLET: Thank you. I know I’m early —
MARY: Granny? Come and see what we’ve done!
VIOLET: Oh, excuse me…
She runs over and pulls her grandmother into the dining room. The table is a mass of silver and flowers.
MARY: What do you think?
VIOLET: Nothing succeeds like excess.50
MARY: When shall we tackle her?
Downton Abbey, Series 3 Scripts (Official) Page 11