GRIGG: Don’t be all high and mighty with me. I don’t know who you are, but you’re certainly not the butler, so don’t make out you are.
BATES: How do you know?
GRIGG: Because Charlie Carson’s the butler round here.
BATES: Does your business concern him?
GRIGG: It might do.
BATES: If you will excuse me for one moment, sir.
Bates walks over to the hovering Anna who’s heard all this.
BATES (CONT’D): Fetch Mr Carson as fast as you can. Use the front door.
She nods and hurries off. Bates turns to the visitor who has by now followed him into the hall.
BATES (CONT’D): If you’d like to follow me, sir—
He turns towards the service stair.
GRIGG: Oh, no. If you think you’re tucking me away somewhere, you’ve got another thing coming.
BATES: But you’ll be more comfortable, sir—
GRIGG: Sorry, chum.
He turns to the left and walks into the library. Bates, in a quandary, follows him, glancing around.
45 INT. LIBRARY. DAY.
Grigg strolls through the small library into the main one, surveying it all with a lordly air. He takes up a position in front of the chimneypiece.
GRIGG: Oh aye. I’ll not mind waiting here.
SYBIL (V.O.): Bates?
She’s in a riding habit in the arch dividing the two libraries. She is staring at the man.
BATES: This gentleman is an acquaintance of Mr Carson, m’lady.
SYBIL: What is he doing in here?
BATES: He says he has urgent business with his lordship.
GRIGG: Urgent.
BATES: I’ve sent for Mr Carson to come at once.
He gives a clear message with his eyes.
SYBIL: Then I’ll stay with you. In case explanations are needed.
Bates mimes ‘Thank you.’
46 EXT. PARK. DOWNTON. DAY.
Robert is walking home. Carson is visible some way away. Robert sees Anna racing down the drive, waving at Carson. She reaches him.
ANNA: You’re needed at once in the library.
47 INT. HALL. DOWNTON. DAY.
Robert has come through the front door into the outer hall when he hears a noise. He is surprised.
GRIGG (V.O.): How long are you expecting me to wait. I’m a very busy man, you know.
BATES: If you could just be patient for a little longer, sir.
48 INT. LIBRARY. DOWNTON. DAY.
Robert enters, puzzled.
GRIGG: Ah!
ROBERT: May I ask who this is? And what precisely is going on?
There is the sound of running feet and Carson bursts in.
CARSON (V.O.): Mr Bates, what are you …
Carson sees Lord Grantham.
CARSON (CONT’D): I am sorry, your lordship. Mr Bates you may go now.
ROBERT: Please stay where you are. Nobody’s going anywhere.
This has defeated Carson’s anxiety to clear the room.
ROBERT (CONT’D): Do I take it you know this man?
GRIGG: Don’t try and deny it.
CARSON: No, I won’t deny it. I do know him, m’lord, but not what he is doing in the library.
BATES: I tried to stick him downstairs, out of sight, Mr Carson, but he wouldn’t come.
This makes Carson pause, as Anna comes round the door.
CARSON: Thank you. That was thoughtful.
ROBERT: But who is he?
GRIGG: Will you tell him, or shall I?
CARSON: His name is Charles Grigg. We worked together at one time.
GRIGG: Oh, I’m a little more than that, aren’t I, Charlie? We’re like brothers, him and me.
CARSON: We are not like brothers.
Anna looks over to Carson, standing to attention, silent.
GRIGG: We were an act. On the halls.
ROBERT: You were on the stage? Carson, is this true?
He is genuinely astonished.
CARSON: It is, m’lord.
GRIGG: The Cheerful Charlies. That’s what they called us.
Grigg has taken out an old flyer out. Now he unfolds it. There they are. The Cheerful Charlies. Carson says nothing.
GRIGG: We did quite well.
CARSON: Until you couldn’t keep your hands out of the till.
ANNA: Would you like us to go, Mr Carson?
CARSON: You know it now. You might as well bear witness to my shame.
* * *
BATES: Not ‘shame’—
CARSON: Shame!
His shout has silenced them all, even Robert and Sybil.
* * *
CARSON (CONT’D): He turned up in the village with no warning some days ago, on the run, asking for somewhere to hide. And, of course, for money.
ROBERT: God in heaven.
CARSON: He’s wanted for some petty crime, of which he is certainly guilty.
GRIGG: Steady on.
CARSON: He threatened to expose my past, to make me a laughing stock in this house, and in my vanity and pride, I gave him what he wanted.
GRIGG: You did not.
CARSON: I put him in an empty cottage and fed him from the kitchens. I couldn’t buy food in the village. It would raise too many questions. I stole. I am a thief. She saw it.
He nods at Anna.
ANNA: I’d never …
CARSON: And now my disgrace is complete. My lord, you have my resignation.
He looks like a tragic hero on his way to the scaffold.
ROBERT: Really, Carson. There’s no need to be quite so melodramatic. You’re not playing Sydney Carton.
* * *
SYBIL: Why did you give up the theatre?
CARSON: He was arrested for theft, and sent down.
GRIGG: I was innocent.
CARSON: After that, I decided on a change of career and chose service.
Robert turns to face Grigg, but the latter is unrepentant.
* * *
ROBERT: So, why have you come here? If he’s done everything you asked of him?
GRIGG: Because he hasn’t. He wouldn’t give me any money.
CARSON: If I had, how could I prevent his returning to Downton once it was spent?
Robert, calm and immensely impressive, approaches Grigg.
ROBERT: My dear Mr Grigg—
GRIGG: Oh, nice to see someone round here’s got some manners.
CARSON: Hold your tongue!
ROBERT: I’ll tell you what is going to happen. When I have given you twenty pounds, you will leave Downton immediately. And we’ll never set eyes on you again.
GRIGG: I’ll have to see about that.
ROBERT: If you return to the area, I will personally ensure your conviction for theft and blackmail—
GRIGG: Just a minute …
ROBERT: You will serve from five to ten years in His Majesty’s custody.
Grigg is furious at his predicament.
GRIGG: You think you’re such a big man, don’t you? Just because you’re a lord, you think you can do what you like with me.
ROBERT: I think it because it is true.
He takes two large white ten pound notes from his wallet. Grigg hesitates, then takes them.
GRIGG: You’ll not always be in charge, you know. The day is coming when your lot will have to tow the line, just like everyone else.
ROBERT: Perhaps. But, happily for Carson, that day has not come yet.*
In another moment, Grigg has gone. Bates and Anna look at each other and follow him. But Carson hesitates.
CARSON: I take it my resignation has not been accepted?
ROBERT: My dear fellow, we all have chapters we would rather keep unpublished.
Carson makes to go, but Robert can’t control his curiosity.
ROBERT (CONT’D): To be honest, Carson, I’m rather impressed. Did you really sing and dance and everything? In front of an audience?
CARSON: I did.
ROBERT: Do you ever miss it?
CARSON: Not
in the least, m’lord.
He is very disdainful as he goes. Sybil holds the flyer. Robert takes it with a smile and puts it in his pocket.
49 INT. SERVANTS’ HALL. EVE.
The others are having a tea break before the dressing gong.
ANNA: Poor Mr Carson. We’ll have to treat him like a god for a month to calm his nerves.
BATES: He’ll be afraid this’ll change the way we think of him.
ANNA: Then we mustn’t let it.
BATES: Oh, but it will. The Cheerful Charlies?
He gives her a look and she cannot help laughing.
BATES (CONT’D): For all his talk of dignity, we know his story now.
ANNA: And admire him more because of it.
BATES: Maybe. But it will change how we think of him. It always does.
Something sad in his eyes catches her attention.
ANNA: I don’t see why. I shouldn’t care what I found out about you. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t alter my opinion one bit.
BATES: But it would. It certainly would.
* * *
Before they are aware of how much they have revealed, there is a crash. They look at each other.
BATES (CONT’D): Blimey. No more surprises please.
50 INT. KITCHEN. DOWNTON. EVE.
Daisy is picking up the pieces of a large china bowl.
MRS PATMORE: Stupid girl! Who’s going to pay for it? Can you tell me that?
DAISY: I didn’t do nuffin, honest.
MRS PATMORE: Honest? The day you’re honest will be the day Queen Mary takes up polo!
DAISY: She put it down wrong on the table and it just fell. I didn’t do nuffin.
She hurries past Anna and Bates, with the pieces.
BATES: The Scourge of Tyranny is never far away.
* * *
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
51 INT. DRAWING ROOM. DOWER HOUSE. DAY.
Violet and Cora are together.
VIOLET: We’re running out of options. The lawyers I write to only huff and puff. They echo Murray, and say nothing can be done …
CORA: Or they don’t want the bother of opposing him.
VIOLET: Precisely.
CORA: I wish Mary wasn’t so confident that it could all be put right.
VIOLET: Meanwhile, we have to watch that dreadful woman parade about the village as if she owned it.
CORA: I think she means well.
VIOLET: Meaning well is not enough. Poor Doctor Clarkson. What has he done to deserve that termagent?
CORA: I’m afraid he’s in for an uncomfortable afternoon.
VIOLET: Why?
CORA: On my way here, I saw her go into the hospital. She looked extremely determined.
Violet rises.
VIOLET: Not as determined as I am.
52 INT. CLARKSON’S OFFICE. VILLAGE HOSPITAL. DAY.
Isobel is with Clarkson, who looks weary.
ISOBEL: I have the adrenaline here in my hand. Will you really deny the man his chance of life?
CLARKSON: I just wish it was a treatment I was more familiar with.
ISOBEL: And will that serve as your excuse when he dies?
He looks at her for a sombre moment. Then he nods, goes to the door and calls out for a nurse.
* * *
CLARKSON: Can you prepare Mr Drake for his procedure, please? Thank you, nurse. I will need a needle, an empty syringe, and another standing ready filled with this.
He hands over the adrenaline, looking back at Isobel.
* * *
CLARKSON (CONT’D): Well, Mrs Crawley, I have a feeling we will sink or swim together.
53 INT. WARD. VILLAGE HOSPITAL. DAY.
Drake is sitting up, greyer than ever. His wife is with him with terror in her eyes, as they listen to Clarkson.
CLARKSON: Mr Drake, your heart is not functioning properly and, as a result, your pericardial sac is full of fluid. We call this tamponade. I am proposing, first, to withdraw the fluid, and then to inject the adrenaline to stimulate the heart and restore normal activity.
MRS DRAKE: Is it dangerous, Doctor?
CLARKSON: I cannot tell you it is not. The draining may stop the heart, and the adrenaline may not be able to re-start it.
ISOBEL: Mrs Drake, the choice is simple. If your husband endures this procedure he may live. If he does not, he will die.
The wretched woman trembles, but before she can speak, there is a noise from beyond the screens.
VIOLET (V.O.): Let me pass! I must see the doctor, at once!
CLARKSON: Your ladyship.
She comes sweeping round the screens.
VIOLET: Just as I thought. Please, Doctor Clarkson, tell me you will not permit this amateur to influence your professional opinion.
* * *
ISOBEL: Amateur?
* * *
MRS DRAKE: Your ladyship—
VIOLET: My dear woman do not allow them to bully you. They’ll not disturb the peace of your husband’s last hours. Not if I can help it.
Violet’s words do the trick. Mrs Drake’s mind is made up.
MRS DRAKE: But that’s just it, m’lady. I don’t want them to be his last hours. Not if there’s a chance …
She nods towards Clarkson.
MRS DRAKE (CONT’D): Please, doctor. Do what you must.
* * *
The nurse takes a pad of chloroform and holds it to the man’s face. The doctor feels the ribs, and pushes the needle with the syringe attached into Drake’s chest.
* * *
VIOLET: As President of this hospital, I must warn you that I shall bring this to the attention of the Board at the first opportunity.
CLARKSON: Steady.
Mrs Drake is crying.
CLARKSON (CONT’D): Nice and steady.
He pulls on the syringe. Violet tries again.
VIOLET: As President of this hospital, I must …
But Clarkson ignores her. He withdraws the syringe and a yellow liquid is seen. For a moment, Drake looks as if he were dead.
VIOLET: Have you no pity?
CLARKSON: Adrenaline. Quickly, quickly. His heart’s stopped.
The nurse gives Clarkson the second syringe, which he now attaches to the needle still in Drake’s chest.
CLARKSON (CONT’D): Ready?
The man is in extremis. Clarkson thumps it in. For a moment, all is stillness. Then, suddenly, colour floods back into Drake’s face. The nurse removes the cloth, as Clarkson takes his stethoscope and listens. He nods to Isobel and the nurse. Now Drake blinks and opens his eyes.
DRAKE: Oh my dear.
He has survived it. His voice is normal. As he takes his wife’s hand, Isobel challenges the raging face of Violet.*
54 INT. LIBRARY. DOWNTON. EVE.
Doctor Clarkson is with Robert and Matthew.
ROBERT: You don’t have to worry. She may be President, but I’m the Patron and you’re quite safe with me.
MATTHEW: My mother was right, then? The man’s life was saved?
CLARKSON: I like to think we were both right. But I’m not sure Lady Grantham will be so easily convinced.
ROBERT: Then we must strengthen the argument. Cousin Isobel wants something to do. Very well. Let’s make her Chairman of the Board. She’d like that, wouldn’t she?
MATTHEW: Certainly, she would.
ROBERT: Then my mother will have to listen to her.
This is very puzzling for the good doctor.
* * *
CLARKSON: But I thought you were—
ROBERT: You thought I didn’t want Mrs Crawley involved?
CLARKSON: So I was led to believe.
ROBERT: Doctor, Mama has many virtues, but not all.
MATTHEW: Which of us does?
* * *
ROBERT: She’s been the absolute ruler there for long enough. It’s time for some loyal opposition.
CLARKSON: If you’re quite certain, my lord.
He hesitates, then thinks better of it and shuts his
mouth.
ROBERT: What were you going to say?
CLARKSON: At the risk of being impertinent: On your own head be it.
55 EXT. DOWNTON. DAY.
Robert and Matthew are talking. Thomas is holding Matthew’s bicycle for him.
ROBERT: About your scheme for restoring the estate cottages.
MATTHEW: You don’t mind my interfering?*
ROBERT: My dear fellow, I brought you here to interfere. In fact, why don’t you stay for dinner and we’ll talk about it? We’ll send down to Molesley for your clothes.
MATTHEW: Better not. My mother’s expecting me. But in fact, I’ve been meaning to speak to you about Molesley.
ROBERT: Oh?
MATTHEW: Would you find me ungrateful if I dispensed with his services?
ROBERT: Why? Has he displeased you in some way?
MATTHEW: Not at all. It’s simply that he’s superfluous to our style of living.
ROBERT: Is that quite fair? To deprive a man of his livelihood, when he’s done nothing wrong?
MATTHEW: Well, I wouldn’t quite put it—
ROBERT: Your mother derives satisfaction from her work at the hospital, I think? Some sense of self worth?
MATTHEW: Certainly.
ROBERT: Would you really deny the same to poor old Molesley?
Matthew feels himself slipping off the moral high ground.
ROBERT (CONT’D): And when you are master here? Is the butler to be dismissed? Or the footmen? How many maids or kitchen staff will be allowed to stay? Or must every one be driven out?
The young man has lost this argument.
ROBERT: We all have different parts to play, Matthew. And we must all be allowed to play them.
He is not angry, but he is firm.
* * *
56 INT. CARSON’S PANTRY. NIGHT.*
Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 Page 10