Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1
Page 2
Cora, Countess of Grantham, is in bed. She’s pretty, in her forties, and American. She’s reading a paper and looks up.*
CORA: Isn’t this terrible? When you think how excited Lucy Rothes was at the prospect. Too awful for any words.
But her husband doesn’t really respond.
CORA (CONT’D): Did J. J. Astor get off? Of course that new wife of his is bound to have been rescued …
Still, Robert will not join in. She tails off.
ROBERT: I’ve had a telegram from George Murray. One of his partners is in New York …
CORA: Yes?
ROBERT: Apparently James and Patrick were on board.
This is astonishing. Terrible. She puts down the paper.
CORA: What? They can’t have been. They weren’t going over ’til May.
ROBERT: Then they changed their plans. They’re definitely on the passenger list.
Cora is aghast. With a knock, O’Brien enters carrying a tray. She places it across Cora’s legs, starting to tidy.
CORA: Thank you, O’Brien. That’ll be all for the moment.
O’Brien doesn’t need to be told twice. She retreats. Cora and Robert stare at each other. Can this be happening?
CORA (CONT’D): But surely they must have been picked up?
ROBERT: Doesn’t look like it.
CORA: What? Neither of them? My God.
She is weeping now. Then a thought occurs to her.
CORA (CONT’D): You must tell Mary. She can’t hear it from anyone else.
His face tells us that he knows his duty.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
25 INT. MARY’S BEDROOM. DAY.
Anna and Gwen are on either side of the bed, finishing off the counterpane. O’Brien is in the doorway.
O’BRIEN: Neither of them were picked up. That’s what he said.
ANNA: Mr Crawley and Mr Patrick?
O’BRIEN: That’s what he said. Her ladyship was the colour of this cloth.
GWEN: Well, it’s a terrible shame if it’s true.
O’BRIEN: It’s worse than a shame. It’s a complication.
She goes. Anna and Gwen pick up some linen, a candlestick and a water carafe and follow.
26 INT. BACK STAIRCASE/HALL. DAY.
The three maids are coming down into the back hall.
GWEN: What do you mean?
O’BRIEN: What do you think? Mr Crawley was his lordship’s cousin and heir to the title.
GWEN: I thought Lady Mary was the heir.
O’BRIEN: She’s a girl, stupid. Girls can’t inherit. But now Mr Crawley’s dead. And Mr Patrick was his only son. So what happens next?*
ANNA: It’s a dreadful thing.
BATES (V.O.): Hello?
The man from the train is below them. With a suitcase.
BATES: I’ve been waiting at the back door. I knocked but no one came.
O’BRIEN: So you pushed in.
BATES: I’m John Bates. The new valet.
What makes this surprising is that he walks with a stick and has a noticeable limp. O‘Brien stares at him.*
O’BRIEN: The new valet?
BATES: That’s right.
O’BRIEN: You’re early.
BATES: Came on the milk train. Thought I could use the day to get to know the place. And start tonight.
ANNA: I’m Anna, the head housemaid.
O’BRIEN: And I’m Miss O’Brien, her ladyship’s maid.
BATES: How do you do?
He holds out his hand. Anna shakes it. O’Brien does not.
O’BRIEN: You’d better come along with us.
He shares a look with Anna as he goes.
27 INT. KITCHEN. DAY.
Mrs Hughes is questioning Bates, watched by O’Brien, Mrs Patmore and the rest. They’re amazed.
MRS HUGHES: But how can you manage?
His answer is direct and even challenging.
BATES: Don’t worry about that. I can manage.
MRS PATMORE: Because we’ve all got our own work to do.
BATES: I can manage.
CARSON: All right, Mrs Hughes. I’ll take over, thank you. Good morning, Mr Bates, and welcome.
But he has not seen the stick until the others break back, giving him a full view. He’s taken aback, but recovers.
CARSON (CONT’D): I hope your journey was satisfactory?
BATES: It was fine. Thank you.
CARSON: I am the butler at Downton. My name is Carson.
BATES: How do you do, Mr Carson.
CARSON: And this is Thomas, first footman. He’s been looking after his lordship since Mr Watson left. It’ll be a relief to get back to normal. Won’t it, Thomas?
But Thomas is not sure he wants to go back to normal and even Carson is not sure this change will be ‘normal.’
CARSON (CONT’D): I assume everything’s ready for Mr Bates’s arrival?
MRS HUGHES: I’ve put him in Mr Watson’s old room, though he left it in quite a state, I can tell you.
MRS PATMORE: But what about all them stairs?
BATES: I keep telling you, I can manage.
The awkward moment registers. Anna comes to the rescue.
ANNA: Of course you can.
CARSON: Thomas, take Mr Bates to his room and show him where he’ll be working.
Thomas and Bates go off together.
CARSON (CONT’D): Thank you, everyone.
The company disperses back to their tasks.
O’BRIEN: Well. I can’t see that lasting long.
CARSON: Thank you, Miss O’Brien.
He goes, leaving her flattened.
28 INT. SERVANTS’ STAIRCASE. DAY.
Bates briefly pauses at the foot of the ninety-seven stone steps as Thomas moves on ahead … Bates follows.
29 INT. SERVANTS’ ATTICS. DAY.
Thomas watches from the door as Bates puts his case on the bed. The room is modest but adequate. Bates looks round.
* * *
BATES: Oh yes. I shall be comfortable here. Why did the last chap leave?
THOMAS: Nobody knows. Just took off. Came down one morning, said cheerio, and that was it. Some of his lordship’s cufflinks went missing at the same time, but nothing was done about it.
BATES: Why not?
THOMAS: They don’t like scandal and he was clever not to take too much. Come on.*
* * *
30 INT. LIBRARY. DAY.
Mary is completely stunned. She is alone with her father.
* * *
MARY: But I thought he wasn’t going until next month.
ROBERT: And he didn’t write to say they were leaving earlier?
MARY: We weren’t in each other’s pockets.
ROBERT: No.
A horrid thought strikes her.
* * *
MARY: Does this mean I’ll have to go into full mourning?
ROBERT: My first cousin and his son are almost certainly dead. We will all be in mourning.
Robert is very moved by what has happened. Mary is not.
MARY: No, I mean with the other thing. After all, it wasn’t official …
ROBERT: If you’re saying you do not wish to mourn Patrick as a fiancé, that is up to you.
MARY: No one knew about it, outside the family.
ROBERT: I repeat, it is up to you.
MARY: Well, that’s a relief.
Which shocks her father. The truth is, Robert loves his children but he doesn’t really know them.*
31 INT. ROBERT’S DRESSING ROOM. DAY.
The dressing room is neat, lined with mahogany doors, with dressing brushes and bibelots laid out on a chest of drawers. The large bed is always made up, but unslept in. Thomas closes a wardrobe door.
THOMAS: There’s some cedar-lined cupboards in the attic, for things that aren’t often worn. Travelling clothes and such. Mr Watson used it to rotate the summer and winter stuff. I’ll show you later.
BATES: What about studs and links? Do I choose them? Or does he?
THOMAS: Lay them out unless he asks for something in particular. These are for a ball, these for an ordinary dinner, these only in London …
BATES: I’ll get the hang of it.
THOMAS: Yeah, you’ll have to.
Bates has wandered over to a vitrine beneath the window.
THOMAS (CONT’D): Snuff boxes. He collects them.
* * *
BATES: Beautiful. It’s lucky Mr Watson didn’t help himself.
THOMAS: He knew they wouldn’t let it go if he had. He was canny like that.
* * *
Bates stares down at the glittering geejaws.
BATES: Funny, our job, isn’t it?
THOMAS: What d’you mean?
BATES: The way we live with all this. A pirate’s hoard within our reach. But none of it’s ours, is it?
THOMAS: No. None of it’s ours.
32 INT. UPSTAIRS PASSAGE. DAY.
Thomas meets O’Brien, who is carrying some linen.
O’BRIEN: Well?
THOMAS: I can’t believe I’ve been passed over for Long John Silver.
O’BRIEN: You should have spoken up when you had the chance. Don’t make the same mistake next time.
THOMAS: Who says there’ll be a next time?
But Mrs Hughes is in the passage now.
MRS HUGHES: Is this a public holiday no one’s told me of?
They go about their business, but O’Brien winks at Thomas.
33 EXT. GARDENS. DOWNTON ABBEY. DAY.
Cora and Robert are walking the dog.
* * *
CORA: I think she’s quite right.
He does not comment.
CORA (CONT’D): It was a family understanding, that’s all. There’s no need to present her as second hand goods because of a private arrangement.
ROBERT: If you say so. She was certainly reluctant to go into mourning.
* * *
He raises his brows to signify his disapproval.
CORA: Well, she’ll have to. We all will. O’Brien’s sorting out my black now and I’ve told Anna to see what the girls have, that still fits.
But mourning is not what she has been thinking about.
CORA (CONT’D): Of course this alters everything.
She has spoken with real finality, but he says nothing.
CORA (CONT’D): You won’t try to deny it? You’ll challenge the entail now? Surely?*
ROBERT: Can’t we at least wait until we know they’re dead before we discuss it?
CORA: Don’t talk as if I’m not brokenhearted, because I am.
But she still has something to get off her chest.
CORA (CONT’D): Of course I’ve never understood why this estate has to go to whomever inherits your title—
ROBERT: My dear, I don’t make the law.
* * *
CORA: But even if I did, why on earth was my money made part of it?
ROBERT: I cannot go over this again. My father was anxious to secure Downton’s future and—
CORA: Your father was anxious to secure my cash! He didn’t wait a month before he made me sign it over!
ROBERT: If we’d had a son, you’d never have noticed.
CORA: Don’t be unkind.
ROBERT: I’m not. I’m just stating a—
CORA: It was bad enough that Patrick would get everything, but at least he was going to marry Mary—
* * *
The sight of Carson walking towards them calms her down.
ROBERT: What is it?
CARSON: The Dowager Countess is in the drawing room.
ROBERT: I’ll come now.
CARSON: She asked for Lady Grantham.
This is a surprise to both husband and wife.
CORA: I wonder what I’ve done wrong this time.
She doesn’t bother to exclude the butler.
CARSON: Oh, and the new valet has arrived, m’lord.
ROBERT: Has he? Thank you, Carson.
Carson hesitates.
ROBERT (CONT’D): What is it?
CARSON: I am not entirely sure he will prove equal to the task but your lordship will be the judge of that.
He turns back to the house. Cora and Robert register this.
CORA: I’d better go.
ROBERT: Tell her about James and Patrick. She won’t have heard.
34 INT. DRAWING ROOM. DAY.
Violet, Countess of Grantham, stands by the fire, dressed from head to toe in black, the first character to be so.*
VIOLET: Of course I’ve heard! Why else would I be here?
CORA: Robert didn’t want you to read it in a newspaper and be upset.
VIOLET: He flatters me. I’m tougher than I look.
Cora’s expression implies that this would be hard.
VIOLET (CONT’D): I’m very sorry about poor Patrick of course. He was a nice boy.
CORA: We were all so fond of him.
VIOLET: But I never cared for James. He was too like his mother and a nastier woman never drew breath.
Which puts paid to any worries about excessive grief.
CORA: Will you stay for some luncheon?
VIOLET: Thank you.
Cora walks towards the bell-pull by the fire.
CORA: I’ll let Carson know.
VIOLET: I’ve already told him. Shall we sit down?
Violet has business to discuss.
* * *
VIOLET (CONT’D): You agree this changes everything.
For once, Cora is surprised. She does agree.
CORA: My words entirely.
* * *
VIOLET: Do you know the new heir?
CORA: Only that there is one.
VIOLET: He’s Robert’s third cousin once removed. I have never, to my knowledge, set eyes on him.
They both know what this conversation is about.
CORA: Of course, if I hadn’t been forced to sign that absurd act of legal theft by your late husband!
Violet flashes for a moment, then steadies herself.
VIOLET: My dear, I haven’t come here for a fight.
Cora is silent. Why has her mother-in-law come?
VIOLET (CONT’D): Lord Grantham wanted to protect the estate. It never occurred to him that you wouldn’t have a son.
CORA: Well, I didn’t.
VIOLET: No. You did not.
Obviously, this has been a source of quarrel before now.
VIOLET (CONT’D): But when Patrick had married Mary and your grandson been hailed as master, honour would have been satisfied. Unfortunately, now—
CORA: Now a complete unknown has the right to pocket my money along with the rest of the swag!
VIOLET: What does Robert say?
CORA: Nothing yet. He’s too upset.
VIOLET: Good. Don’t let him come to a decision until we can be sure it’s the correct one.
At this Cora starts to huff, but Violet raises her palm.
VIOLET (CONT’D): The problem is, saving your dowry would break up the estate. It’d be the ruin of everything Robert’s given his life to.
CORA: And he knows this?
VIOLET: If he doesn’t, he will.
CORA: Then there’s no answer.
Cora is now truly fascinated. Which the other woman sees.
VIOLET: Yes there is, and it’s a simple one. The entail must be smashed in its entirety and Mary recognised as heiress of all.
CORA: There’s nothing we can do about the title.
VIOLET: No, she can’t have the title. But she can have your money. And the estate. I didn’t run Downton for thirty years to see it go, lock, stock and barrel, to a stranger from God knows where.
At last Cora speaks in a voice of wonder.
CORA: Are we to be friends, then?
Violet hesitates. She would not go quite that far.
VIOLET: We are allies, my dear. Which can be a good deal more effective.
35 INT. SERVANTS’ HALL. DAY.
It is lunchtime. The camera passes Mrs Patmore, Daisy and the kitchen staff eatin
g in the kitchen, and arrives in the Servants’ Hall, where Carson addresses Bates.
CARSON: Downton is a great house, Mr Bates, and the Crawleys are a great family. We live by certain standards and those standards can at first seem daunting.
BATES: Of course—
CARSON: If you find yourself tongue-tied in the presence of his lordship, I can only assure you that his manners and grace will soon help you to perform your duties to the best of your ability.
BATES: I know—
ROBERT (V.O.): Bates! My dear fellow!
Robert is in the doorway. The stunned company struggles to its feet. Whereupon he notices he has interrupted them.
ROBERT: I do apologise. I should have realised you’d be at luncheon.
CARSON: Not at all, m’lord.
ROBERT: Please sit. Sit, everyone. I just want to say a quick hello to my old comrade in arms. Bates, my dear man. Welcome to Downton.
But Bates has struggled to his feet and now Robert sees that he is disabled. He takes his hand.
ROBERT (CONT’D): I’m so sorry to have disturbed you all. Please forgive me.
He goes. The table is silent, with everybody’s eyes fixed on the newcomer. He shrugs slightly, looking round.
BATES: You never asked.
O’Brien catches Thomas’s eye. Their look is not friendly.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
36 INT. KITCHEN. DAY.
Mrs Patmore and the kitchen maids are working flat out.*
MRS PATMORE: Thomas, take that up!
The footman loads a pie onto a tray with Daisy’s help.
MRS PATMORE (CONT’D): Leave that, Daisy! He’s a grown man. I suppose he can lift a meat pie. Now, put the apple tart into the low oven!
Daisy smiles up at Thomas as he hurries out. Mrs Patmore sees a bowl on the side.
MRS PATMORE (CONT’D): And take that away. Mr Lynch shouldn’t have left it there.