Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (34 page)

To Violet, this is loaded. They join Matthew at the stall.

MATTHEW: They're rather marvellous, aren't they?

MARY: Lovely. Well done Mr Molesley.

BILL MOLESLEY: Thank you, m'lady.

Violet looks round the room, firmly.

VIOLET: I think
everyone
is to be congratulated. It's splendid.

ISOBEL: But do look at these roses. Have you ever seen the like?

It's a challenge. Violet meets it head on, turning to Cora.

VIOLET: My dear, Mrs Crawley believes I am profiting from an unfair advantage.

CORA: Oh?

VIOLET: She feels, in the past, I have been given the cup more as a matter of routine than merit.

She smiles blandly. Matthew catches Mary's eye.

MATTHEW: That's rather ungallant, Mother. I'm sure when we see Cousin Violet's roses, it will be hard to think they could be bettered.

ISOBEL: Hard. But not impossible.

VIOLET: You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never knew such reforming zeal.

ISOBEL: I take that as a compliment.

Violet turns away, murmuring audibly to Mary.

VIOLET: I must have said it wrong.

She moves on, leaving Mary and Matthew together.

MARY: Poor Granny. She's not used to being challenged.

MATTHEW: Nor is Mother. I think we should let them settle it between them.

MARY: So you are interested in flowers?

MATTHEW: I'm interested in the village. In fact I'm on my way to inspect the cottages.

MARY: You know what all work and no play did for Jack.

MATTHEW: But you think I'm a dull boy, anyway. Don't you?

She wouldn't answer him, even if she knew the answer.

MATTHEW (CONT'D): I play, too. I'm coming up for dinner tonight. I suspect I'm there to balance the numbers. Is it in aid of anything?

MARY: Not that I know of. Just a couple of dreary neighbours, that's all.

MATTHEW: Maybe I'll shine by comparison.

Violet across the room calls out.

VIOLET: Mary! We're going.

Mary looks at her companion.

MARY: Maybe you will.

Most of the servants are present. Carson looks in.

CARSON: Might I have a word?

They are all silenced by his tone.

CARSON (CONT'D): I want to say something before I ring the gong. I'm afraid it's not very pleasant.

Naturally, you could now hear a pin drop.

CARSON (CONT'D): His lordship is missing a very valuable snuff box. It appears to have been taken from the case in his room. If one of you knows anything about this, will he or she please come to me. Your words will be heard in the strictest confidence. Thank you.

He goes, leaving the household amazed. Then O'Brien speaks.

O'BRIEN: I am sorry, Mr Bates. What an unpleasant thing to have happened.

ANNA: Why are you picking on him?

THOMAS: Because he's the only one of us who goes in there. But don't worry. I'm sure it'll turn up.

BATES: Thank you for your concern.

There is the sound of the gong and they all walk out to attend to their duties, leaving Bates alone with Anna. He is pale.

BATES (CONT'D): I hate this kind of thing. I hope to God they find it.

ANNA: Don't be silly. Nobody thinks it's you.

BATES: No?

ANNA: Why ever would they?

At this, he looks at her but he does not reply.

BATES: Better get a move on.

Mary is alone. There is a knock and Cora enters.

MARY: I'm coming. Do you think this brooch works? I can't decide.

CORA: It's charming.

She sits carefully on the bed.

MARY: Oh dear. Is it another scolding?

CORA: Of course not. You're too grown up to scold, these days.

MARY: Heavens. Then it's really serious.

CORA: I'd like you to look after Sir Anthony Strallan tonight. He's a nice, decent man. His position may not be quite like Papa's but it would still make you a force for good in the county—

MARY: Mama, not again! How many times am I to be ordered to marry the man sitting next to me at dinner?
*

CORA: As many times as it takes.

Her voice is stronger than before.

MARY: I turned down Matthew Crawley. Is it likely I'd marry Strallan when I wouldn't marry
him
?

Her words contain a veiled compliment to Matthew.

CORA: I am glad you've come to think more highly of Cousin Matthew.

MARY: That's not the point.
*

CORA: No. The point is, when you refused Matthew, you were the daughter of an earl with an unsullied reputation. Now you are damaged goods.

Her words are a severe shock to Mary.

MARY: Mama—

CORA: Somehow, I don't know how, there is a rumour in London, that you are not … virtuous.

MARY: What? Does Papa know about this?

CORA: He knows it and he dismisses it. Because, unlike you and me, he doesn't know that it is true.

Again, the plain but shocking statement subdues Mary.

CORA (CONT'D): Let's hope it's unkind gossip. Because if anyone heard about …

MARY: Kemal. My lover. Kemal Pamuk.

Her words are meant as a haughty challenge, but Cora is simply relieved she will not have to speak the name.

CORA: Exactly. If it gets around, and you're not already married, every door in London will be slammed in your face.

MARY: Mama, the world is changing—

CORA: Not that much, and not fast enough for you!

MARY: I know you mean to help. I know you love me. But I also know what I'm capable of, and forty years of boredom and duty just isn't possible for me. I'm sorry.

CORA: I do love you and I want to help.

MARY: I'm a lost cause, Mama. Leave me to manage my own affairs. Why not concentrate on Edith? She needs all the help she can get.

CORA: You mustn't be unkind to Edith. She has fewer advantages than you.

MARY: Fewer? She has none at all.

Edith's reflection can be seen in the glass of a picture on the wall. The door is slightly open.

Edith is standing, listening, at Mary's door.

Daisy is pouring bread sauce into a sauce boat. She works in silence as Mrs Patmore takes up a thick cloth.

MRS PATMORE: Open the oven.

Daisy opens the heavy door. Mrs Patmore lifts out the big, earthenware roasting dish with three large fowl. She turns and walks into the side of the kitchen table and trips. The dish falls on the floor and shatters. As she screams, a cat starts out from the shadows and pounces on the first bird.

ANNA (V.O.): What's happened?

She and Gwen appear at the doorway as Daisy tries to drive away the cat from the first bird.

MRS PATMORE: It's that bloomin' Daisy! I've said she'd be the death of me, and now my word's come true!

DAISY: I didn't do nuffin!

ANNA: Here, let me help you.

She wrestles Mrs Patmore into a chair. Gwen kicks the cat.

GWEN: Get away! Get back to the stables! Who let this thing in here?
*

She picks up the bird which has been chewed, with a great mouthful missing from its breast.

GWEN (CONT'D): What'll you serve now?

MRS PATMORE: Why, them o'course. I ain't got nothing else.

Gwen looks at Anna and Daisy.

ANNA: I s'pose they'll be all right. Daisy, give us a hand, get that cloth.

Anna, Gwen and Daisy take the three birds, wiping them with a cloth.

ANNA (CONT'D): Now, fetch the serving dish.

Which Daisy does. Anna arranges the birds, with bits of parsley and cress covering their wounds.

ANNA (CONT'D): What's the matter with that?

DAISY: Are you sure? Shouldn't we tell?

MRS PATMORE: Certainly not.

Thomas has just arrived with a tray of dirty crockery.

THOMAS: Is the remove ready to go up?

Anna sets the plate of broken birds on the tray.

ANNA: Here we are. Daisy, give him a hand with the vegetables.

DAISY: They're up in the servery. In the warmer.

Thomas and Daisy leave the others alone.

GWEN: Well, I'm glad
I
don't have to eat them.

MRS PATMORE: What the eye don't see, the heart won't grieve over.

The three mangled birds are carried along the passage.

The same birds are carved and almost eaten. William clears the plates, one by one. Mary is between Matthew and Sir Anthony, who has Cora on his left and Edith opposite.

STRALLAN: Hmm, there's no doubt about it. The next few years in farming are going to be about mechanisation. That's the test and we're going to have to meet it.

Mary is day-dreaming and so fails to respond.

STRALLAN (CONT'D): Don't you agree, Lady Mary?

MARY: Yes, of course, Sir Anthony. I'm sure I do.

She leans over to Matthew who is talking to his other side.

MARY (CONT'D): Are we ever going to be allowed to turn?

EDITH: Sir Anthony, it must be so hard to meet the challenge of the future, and yet be fair to your employees.

She has spoken across the table, putting her neighbour out.

STRALLAN: This is the point, precisely. We can't fight progress, but we
must
find ways to soften the blow.

EDITH: I should love to see one of the new harvesters, if you would ever let me. We don't have one here.

STRALLAN: I should be delighted.

During this, Carson has filled their glasses and William has supplied them with pudding plates. William goes out.

Mrs Patmore is there as William comes in. Thomas is waiting while Anna is loading a tray with dirty crockery.

WILLIAM: I hope they find that snuff box. What happens if they don't?

THOMAS: They'll organise a search, won't they? I wouldn't be Mr Bates. Not for all the tea in China.

ANNA: Wouldn't you, Thomas? I dare say he feels just the same about you.

But he smirks towards the door and when Anna walks out with her tray, she sees O'Brien hovering there.

ANNA (CONT'D): What's the matter with you?

O'BRIEN: Nothing.

But she is giggling as she hurries away. Inside the pantry, each footman carries a large meringue on a round tray, complete with spoon and fork. Carson looks round the door.

CARSON: Ready?

Mrs Patmore steps forward with a bowl of sugar and a spoon.

MRS PATMORE: Just a minute.

She sprinkles each pudding liberally.

MRS PATMORE (CONT'D): I don't like to put it on earlier. It sinks in and spoils the effect.

She steps back and the men walk in.

Thomas and William start at opposite ends, on opposite sides. Thomas serves first Cora, then Strallan. As he takes a spoonful, Cora turns to speak to Strallan, obliging the guests round the table to finish their conversations and turn to their other neighbour, which in a fragmented way they gradually do, some more reluctant than others. Mary turns to Matthew as she helps herself, after Strallan.