Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1

by Julian Fellowes

  CORA: You needn’t be quite so shocked.

  ROBERT: Give me a moment. You haven’t been pregnant for eighteen years.

  CORA: And I’m pregnant now.

  ROBERT: I don’t understand what we’ve done differently.

  She holds up her hand.

  CORA: Stop, right there. If you want to know more, go down and offer the doctor some whisky.

  ROBERT: I can’t take it in.

  CORA: But you’re pleased?

  ROBERT: Of course. Of course I’m pleased.*

  10 EXT. KITCHEN COURTYARD. DOWNTON. EVE.

  Thomas smokes as he reads the letter.

  THOMAS: I didn’t think she’d do it.

  O’BRIEN: I told you she would. I could see she was interested. And I was speaking as one lady’s maid to another. That means something, you know.

  THOMAS: ’Course we thought we had him before but he’s a slippery devil.

  11 INT. LIBRARY. DOWNTON. EVE.

  Robert and Clarkson are drinking whisky.

  CLARKSON: It’s unusual, obviously.

  ROBERT: Unusual? It’s biblical.

  CLARKSON: Not quite. You understand women go through a certain … change.

  ROBERT: Thank you. I know quite as much as I need to about all that.

  * * *

  CLARKSON: Well, sometimes it can result in a surge of … fertility, for want of a better word. It might have been what happened with St Elizabeth.

  Robert is not interested in discussing St Elizabeth.

  * * *

  ROBERT: But the child will be healthy?

  CLARKSON: Oh, there’s no reason why not.

  ROBERT: How long has she …?

  CLARKSON: Hard to be precise. Things had become irregular, but …

  ROBERT: Please!

  CLARKSON: I’d say she’s about four months gone. It’ll begin to show soon.

  ROBERT: And I don’t suppose there’s any way of knowing if it’s a …

  Clarkson does not answer. The door opens. Mrs Hughes stands in the doorway.

  MRS HUGHES: I do beg your pardon, m’lord. I thought you were alone.

  CLARKSON: Please come in, Mrs Hughes. I’m just leaving.

  Mrs Hughes turns to the open door and calls gently.

  MRS HUGHES: William!

  ROBERT: Well, thank you, Doctor … I’d better start writing some letters

  William appears in the doorway.

  MRS HUGHES: Show Doctor Clarkson out.

  The others go and Robert and Mrs Hughes are alone.

  MRS HUGHES: I didn’t want to bother her ladyship, if she’s not well …

  ROBERT: She’s resting, but tell me anyway.

  MRS HUGHES: It’s Mrs Patmore, m’lord. The time has come when we really have to make a decision.

  12 INT. CARSON’S PANTRY. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Carson is with Thomas and O’Brien. He’s reading the letter.

  THOMAS: Now do you believe me?

  CARSON: Careful, Thomas. Your position is not a strong one.

  O’BRIEN: Don’t punish us, Mr Carson. It’s Mr Bates who’s wanting here.

  THOMAS: Tell me, Mr Carson, do you think it right, a man like that should live and work at Downton?

  Carson is floored. Thomas and O’Brien share a quick look.

  13 INT. LADY ROSAMUND PAINSWICK’S DRAWING ROOM. LONDON. DAY.

  Mary is sitting by the window when the door opens and the servant announces Mr Evelyn Napier. Evelyn comes into the room.

  SERVANT: Mr Napier, m’lady.

  MARY: What a surprise. I’m afraid you’ve just missed my aunt.

  EVELYN: I know. I watched her leave.

  * * *

  Mary gestures for him to sit. He lays his hat on the floor.

  * * *

  MARY: How are your wedding plans going?

  EVELYN: Not very well … In fact, we’ve decided to call it off.

  MARY: Really? It seemed quite fixed at Sybil’s ball. What a shame! Please.

  She motions him to sit down.

  EVELYN: It’ll be better in the long run.

  MARY: Perhaps. I know what high hopes you have of the institution.

  She is cold. This is a man who effectively turned her down.

  EVELYN: The thing is, Lady Mary, I am here today because I needed to tell you something, face to face, before you went to the country.

  MARY: ‘Face to face’? Gracious me.

  EVELYN: I’ve recently heard gossip about the time when I came to Downton with Kemal Pamuk. Gossip that I believe has made life difficult for you. I’ve also heard it said that I am the source of these stories.

  Mary just looks at him. She will not help.

  EVELYN (CONT’D): It is very important to me that you should know I am not. From that day to this, I have never spoken one word on the matter.

  MARY: Then who did?

  EVELYN: It seems to come from the Turkish Embassy, from the Ambassador, himself, in fact. And his wife.

  MARY: But who told them, if not you?

  EVELYN: This is the hard part. When I discovered the answer, I debated whether I should relay it, but in the end I feel you ought to know.

  MARY: The suspense is killing me.

  EVELYN: It was your sister, Lady Edith, who wrote to the Ambassador. That is why people accept the story.

  MARY: Edith?

  EVELYN: It’s very hard to believe.

  MARY: Harder for you than for me.

  14 INT. THE SERVANTS’ CORRIDOR. DOWNTON. DAY.

  Carson is with Mrs Hughes.

  MRS HUGHES: I love the thought of a baby in the house, but if it’s a boy …

  CARSON: It’ll be very hard on Mr Crawley.

  He has completed her sentence. She is surprised. He nods.

  CARSON (CONT’D): I know. I was no great champion when he first arrived. But it seems to me he’s tried his best, and he’s done the decent thing.

  MRS HUGHES: I can’t see that coming off.

  CARSON: You don’t mean the engagement?

  MRS HUGHES: But it’s not an engagement yet, is it?

  CARSON: She’d never throw him over!

  MRS HUGHES: Mr Carson, Lady Mary Crawley does not deserve you.

  His shocked expression has made her smile.

  15 INT. DRAWING ROOM. DOWER HOUSE. DAY.

  Violet is with Cora.

  VIOLET: And she hasn’t been in touch with Cousin Matthew?

  CORA: Not that I’ve heard.

  Violet nods. She doesn’t want to comment on this bad sign.

  VIOLET: Wonderful news, of course. You must look after yourself.

  CORA: Don’t worry. O’Brien has me wrapped in silk and feathers.

  VIOLET: You’re lucky. I have a horrible feeling Simmons is about to hand in her notice. She’s looking very fidgety, lately, and I saw her hurrying to meet the postman.

  CORA: You poor thing. Is there anything worse than losing one’s maid?

  VIOLET: I mean, why would she want to leave me? I’ve been as gentle as a lamb.

  Cora says nothing.

  VIOLET (CONT’D): Most of the time.

  16 EXT. THE PARK. DOWNTON. DAY.

  Robert is walking with Matthew, in front of the house.

  ROBERT: I want to say I’ll make provision for you, if it’s a boy and you’re pushed out—

  MATTHEW: Don’t worry. I know you can’t. If any man living understands the strength of the entail, it’s me.

  ROBERT: I can give you Crawley House for life, if it’s a help.*

  MATTHEW: Have you heard from Mary?

  ROBERT: No. Have you?

  Matthew shakes his head. They know this is significant.

  ROBERT (CONT’D): By the way, I want to ask a favour. What’s the name of your cook? The one you brought with you from Manchester?

  MATTHEW: Mrs Bird.

  17 INT. KITCHEN. DOWNTON. DAY.

  Daisy is loading William’s tray, while Mrs Patmore is draining some vegetables. She is very clumsy.

  DA
ISY: I’ll get it, Mrs Patmore!

  She darts in and saves the boiling saucepan.

  MRS PATMORE: Oh! Don’t fuss me!

  WILLIAM: Is that everything?

  DAISY: Yeah. How are you feeling?

  WILLIAM: Well, most people’s parents die before them, and so they should …

  THOMAS: Oh, give it a rest.

  He has also come down to load up his tray.

  THOMAS (CONT’D): Your mother knew how to drag it out. I’ll say that for her.

  WILLIAM: What?

  MRS HUGHES (V.O.): Thomas! Get up to the servery!

  She’s arrived as Mrs Patmore screams. She’s burned herself.

  MRS PATMORE: You gave me the wrong cloth! Ow!

  MRS HUGHES: Here, sit down, Mrs Patmore.

  MRS PATMORE: I can’t sit down. I’ve got the luncheon to finish!

  MRS HUGHES: It was not a suggestion … Sit! Daisy and I’ll finish the luncheon.

  18 INT. DRAWING ROOM. CRAWLEY HOUSE. EVE.

  ISOBEL: So he’ll give us this house for life, will he? How generous!

  MATTHEW: It is generous. He doesn’t have to. But it’s made me think. You must stay here if you want but I wonder if it mightn’t be better all round, if I went back to Manchester.*

  ISOBEL: It may not be a boy.

  MATTHEW: Really, mother. You never approved of it all in the first place. If it is a boy, you should see it as a release, not a disappointment.

  ISOBEL: What does Mary say?

  MATTHEW: Nothing yet.

  They both know they should have heard. The door opens. Molesley enters with a grim-looking woman. Mrs Bird.

  MOLESLEY: You wanted to see Mrs Bird, sir.

  MATTHEW: Yes. Mrs Bird, Lord Grantham has rather a favour to ask of you.

  MRS BIRD: I’m surprised Lord Grantham knows that I exist, sir.

  19 INT. DRESSING ROOM. DOWNTON. EVE.

  Bates is laying out Robert’s tails, when Carson appears.

  CARSON: I’m sorry to disturb you.

  BATES: Quite all right.

  CARSON: Mr Bates, it’s about your somewhat startling confession. As you’ll have surmised his lordship has yet to come to a decision …

  BATES: His delay is generous.

  CARSON: However, it will be no surprise to you that Miss O’Brien has been unwilling to let things drop. It seems that, when we were in London, she made a new friend. A lady’s maid in the house of a colonel of your former regiment.

  He hands over the familiar letter for Bates to read.

  CARSON (CONT’D): Please tell me that this account is false, at least in part.

  BATES: I wish I could.

  CARSON: I’ll have to show it to his lordship.

  BATES: Of course you will.

  CARSON: I do not like to play the part of Pontius Pilate, but I’m afraid I must. Lord Grantham will decide what’s to be done.

  He goes to the door but then he stops.

  CARSON (CONT’D): Mr Bates, I hope you don’t feel I have treated you unjustly.

  BATES: On the contrary, Mr Carson, I am astonished at your kindness.

  Which, if anything, makes Carson feel even worse.

  END OF ACT ONE

  ACT TWO

  20 INT. LADY ROSAMUND’S HOUSE. LONDON. DAY.

  Lady Rosamund and Mary are walking down the stairs into the hall.

  ROSAMUND: Of all of you, Sybil might find joy in a cottage. But not you.

  MARY: We don’t know it’ll be a boy.

  ROSAMUND: Exactly. So ask Matthew to wait until the child is born. If it’s a girl then wed him happily, and all will be as it was before.

  MARY: If I delay, won’t he think I’m only after him for his position?

  Rosamund is not interested in this line of argument.

  MARY (CONT’D): Besides, I’m not sure I want to put him off, even without the title. We get on so well, you know. And he’s terribly clever. He might end up Lord Chancellor.

  ROSAMUND: And he might not! Come along, Mary, be sensible. Can you really see yourself dawdling your life away as the wife of a country solicitor?

  The problem is Mary can’t quite picture this, either.*

  21 INT. LIBRARY. DOWNTON. DAY.

  Carson is astonished, which does not surprise Robert.

  CARSON: But why would we ever want a telephone at Downton, m’lord?

  ROBERT: Well, they have their uses. You could speak to the housekeeper in London. That’d be helpful surely?

  CARSON: I hope I’ve not failed in my management of the recent move?

  ROBERT: Not at all. But the telephone is here now, and the girls got used to it while we were in London. Besides, none of us know what the next few months will bring.

  CARSON: Because of the Archduke’s death?

  ROBERT: The Austrians won’t get what they want from Serbia. And now Russia’s starting to rumble … Well, there’s not much we can do about that … So, will you take care of the telephone man?

  Carson is about to go, when he changes his mind.

  CARSON: Hmm. Oh, about Mr Bates, m’lord. I expect you’ve had time to consider the contents of that letter?

  ROBERT: Yes. Though I find it very odd. Regimental silver? I could more easily see Bates as an assassin than a petty pilferer.

  CARSON: I agree. And while the letter is hard to argue with—

  Robert looks up, waiting for him to complete his thought.

  CARSON (CONT’D): I wouldn’t put anything past Thomas or Miss O’Brien.

  22 INT. DRAWING ROOM. DOWNTON. DAY.

  Cora is relieved they are just family.

  SYBIL: So, what did we miss?

  MARY: Nothing much. Although you’d have had more invitations than I did.

  VIOLET: Have you thought about Matthew?

  MARY: Of course, but Aunt Rosamund …

  VIOLET: She’s written to me. I should pay no attention.

  EDITH: But, Granny, she has got a point. Mary can’t be completely naive.

  MARY: I don’t need your help, thank you.

  She says this with a malice that makes Edith recoil.

  VIOLET: Mary, listen to me. If you take Matthew now when his whole future is at risk, he will love you to the end of his days.*

  SYBIL: Why, Granny! You’re a romantic!

  VIOLET: I’ve been called many things but never that.

  EDITH: And what happens if the baby is a boy and Matthew loses everything?

  VIOLET: Mary can always change her mind.

  MARY: I couldn’t do that to Matthew. It’s not how we are together … I’m going upstairs to help Anna unpack.

  Clearly, she doesn’t want to continue this. She stands.

  SYBIL: I’ll come with you.

  CORA: Edith? Why don’t you go, too?

  It’s an order. Edith walks towards the door.

  VIOLET: Sir Anthony Strallan was at Lady Wren’s party. He asked after you.

  Edith flushes with pride, and shuts the door. Violet sighs.

  CORA: Is she really serious about him?

  VIOLET: Any port in a storm … By the way, I was right about my maid. She’s leaving to get married. How can she be so selfish?

  CORA: I do sympathise. Robert’s always wanting me to get rid of O’Brien, but I can’t face it. And anyway, she’s so fond of me.

  VIOLET: Well, I thought Simmons was fond of me… What am I to do?

  CORA: Why don’t I put an advertisement in The Lady? It’s always the best place to start.

  VIOLET: Oh, that’s so kind, thank you. Now, I really must be going.

  But a new thought strikes her.

  VIOLET (CONT’D): Don’t let Mary wait for the baby before she gives Matthew her answer.

  CORA: I’m sure it’s another girl.

  VIOLET: I know those men of the moral high ground. If she won’t say yes when he might be poor, he won’t want her, when he will be rich.

  23 INT. SERVANTS’ HALL. DOWNTON. DAY.

  Thomas is reading the paper, during the servant
s’ tea.

  DAISY: Maybe we should knit something.

  O’BRIEN: Oh yes, I’m sure they’d love a pair of bootees knitted by you.

  WILLIAM: Or what about a christening mug?

  THOMAS: They can buy their own silver.

  GWEN: Anything in the paper, Thomas?

  THOMAS: They’ve arrested this Princip fellow and his gang. All Serbian and members of the Black Hand.

  O’BRIEN: ‘The Black Hand’? Ugh. I don’t like the sound of that.

  BATES: I don’t like the sound of any of it. War is on the way.

  WILLIAM: Then we’ll have to face it. As bravely as we can.

  THOMAS: Thank you, Mr Cannon Fodder.

  GWEN: Don’t you think a war’s coming?

  THOMAS: Oh, there’ll be a war, all right. And it’s time to prepare for it.

  ANNA: The country, do you mean?

  THOMAS: No, me.

  BATES: You never disappoint.

  Before this can develop, Carson looks in.

  CARSON: Daisy, run and find Mrs Patmore. His lordship wants to see her, in the library.

  DAISY: His lordship wants Mrs Patmore to go up to the library?

  CARSON: That’s what I said. And Anna, you’re to come, too.

  The company is stunned. Daisy leaves the silent room.

  O’BRIEN: And we thought the assassination of an Archduke was a surprise.

  24 INT. LIBRARY. DOWNTON. DAY.

  Robert’s at his desk.

  CARSON: Mrs Patmore, m’lord.

  He stands as Carson brings the cook and maid in.

  MRS PATMORE: Your lordship, I know things haven’t been quite right for a while, but I can assure you—

  ROBERT: Come in, Mrs Patmore.

  MRS PATMORE: I promise you, m’lord, if I could just be allowed a bit more time—

  ROBERT: Mrs Patmore, I have not asked you here to give you your notice.

  MRS PATMORE: Haven’t you?

  ROBERT: No. Now, I understand you’ve had trouble with your sight—