Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (47 page)

CORA: You must think very carefully about what your answer will be.

MARY: Yes, I should think very carefully about a lot of things.

They had not noticed she was listening. Mary walks on. Matthew watches her, but looks away when she glances over. He is with Robert, Violet and Isobel by the fire.

MATTHEW: Do your neighbours have one?

ROBERT: Yes, they do, in London anyway.

MATTHEW: It seems very wise to get a telephone now. If there is a war, it may be hard to have one installed in a private house.

ROBERT: Well, let me show you where we're going to put it?

Robert leads Matthew away and out of the room.

VIOLET: First electricity, now telephones. Sometimes I think I must be living in an H.G. Wells novel. But the young are so calm about change, aren't they. Look at Matthew. I do admire him.
*

ISOBEL: Do you?

Her tone and her look are not warm. Violet sighs.

VIOLET: What have I done wrong now?

ISOBEL: Oh please! Don't pretend Mary's sudden reluctance can't be traced back to you.

VIOLET: I shall pretend it. I told her to take him. Your quarrel's with my daughter Rosamund, not me. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

William reaches for her cup, bringing matters to a close.
†

Molesley opens the door to find Thomas taking a wallet from Carson's change coat. Thomas starts.

THOMAS: Mr Moseley, what are you after?

MOLESLEY: I wanted a word with Mr Carson. I'm here to have my dinner.

THOMAS: You don't want much, do you?

MOLESLEY: What were you doing?

THOMAS: Mr Carson dropped his wallet in the passage. I was replacing it.

He dares Molesley to disagree with him.

Robert and Matthew are alone, drinking port.

ROBERT: But everything seemed so settled between you, at Sybil's ball.

MATTHEW: Things have changed since then.

ROBERT: Not necessarily. I don't seem to be much good at making boys.

But Matthew is too worn down to joke about this.

MATTHEW: Any more than I'm much good at building my life on shifting sands.

There is something ominous in this, which saddens Robert.

ROBERT: You do know I should be very proud to have you as my son-in-law, whatever your prospects.

MATTHEW: Unfortunately, sir, your daughter is more practical than you.

The servants are seated as the hall boys serve the soup. Mrs Bird is hovering as Molesley enters.

CARSON: Will you join us, Mrs Bird?

MRS BIRD: I don't mind if I do.

DAISY: I'm not sure Mrs Patmore would like that, Mr Carson. Cook always eats separate, that's what she says.

MOLESLEY: Not in our house. There's only the four of us.

Thomas comes in and sits next to O'Brien. They whisper.

THOMAS: Well, you're going any minute. She's advertised for your replacement.

O'BRIEN: That filthy, ungrateful cow.

Mrs Hughes addresses Mrs Bird.

MRS HUGHES: Let the kitchen maids have theirs on their own. You stay with us.

CARSON: Her ladyship said to tell you that the dinner was delicious.

DAISY:
She can't have!

CARSON: Daisy? Does that surprise you?

They have started to eat the soup but without enthusiasm. Now Mrs Bird takes a spoonful. And spits it out.

MRS BIRD: What have you done with this, you little beggar? I
knew
you were up to summat! That's why I said it was for upstairs. Come on. Tell us what's in it!

DAISY: Just water and a bit of soap.

She is crying now. The others stop drinking the soup.

MRS BIRD: And you've put something in the fish sauce as well?

DAISY: Only mustard and aniseed.

MRS HUGHES: Why, Daisy? Why would you do such a thing?

DAISY: Mrs Patmore was worried that they'd prefer Mrs Bird's cooking, and they wouldn't want her to come back.

CARSON: Is it likely? When they've taken so much trouble to get her well?

Daisy is really sobbing now.

DAISY: I'm sorry.

At last, Mrs Bird takes pity.

MRS BIRD: There, there. There are worse crimes on earth than loyalty.

BATES: Well said.

MRS BIRD: Dry your eyes, and fetch the beef stew I was making for tomorrow. You've not had a chance to spoil that, I suppose.

DAISY: I was going to mix in some syrup of figs. But I've not done it yet

THOMAS: Well, at least we'd all have been regular.

He's too vulgar for Mrs Hughes and Carson. The rest laugh.

A workman is kneeling, surrounded by telephone wiring. Mr Bromidge is with him, with a notebook, when Sybil appears.

SYBIL: Carson said you were here.

BROMIDGE: Ah! Just checking that everything's being done right, m'lady.

SYBIL: Only we never heard back—that is, Miss Dawson never heard back from you. About an interview?

BROMIDGE: Ah, yes … We got the young lady's letter. But the trouble is, she didn't have any experience of hard work, that I could tell, so …

SYBIL: But she's a very hard worker!

BROMIDGE: Oh, I couldn't find any proof of it. And she gave you as a reference when you don't run a business, m'lady. Well, not that I'm aware of.

Just then Sybil hears movement …

SYBIL: Lily, can you find Gwen. Tell her to come to the hall, now.

LILY: Yes, m'lady.

The maid above hurries away. Sybil turns back to Bromidge.

SYBIL: The reason Gwen didn't give any more details is because she works here, as a housemaid.

BROMIDGE: And you thought that'd put me off?

SYBIL: But she's taken a postal course, and has good speeds in typing and Pitman shorthand. Test her.

BROMIDGE: I will, if I like the look of her.

Gwen emerges from the back staircase, rather breathless.

BROMIDGE (CONT'D): So, young lady, you thought I'd turn up my nose at a housemaid?

GWEN: I did, sir.

BROMIDGE: My mother was a housemaid. I've got nothing against housemaids. They know about hard work and long hours, that's for sure.

GWEN: I believe so, sir.

BROMIDGE: Right. Well, is there somewhere we could talk?

He looks at Sybil, who sees the open library door.

SYBIL: Gwen, take Mr Bromidge to the library. I'll see no one disturbs you.

The two of them go into the room, as Robert enters from the hall, and heads for the library.

SYBIL (CONT'D): Sorry, Papa, you can't go in there.

ROBERT: Why on earth not?

SYBIL: Gwen's in there with Mr Bromidge. She's being interviewed.

ROBERT: I cannot use my library because one of the housemaids is in there applying for another job?

SYBIL: That's about the size of it.
*

Anna approaches a modest, tidy house in a row.

Anna is perched on a chair in her hat. Mrs Bates, a kindly woman of seventy, is facing her. A table holds tea things.

MRS BATES: So, you're not trying to find John, Miss Smith?

ANNA: No. I work with him. At Downton.

MRS BATES: You're not, by any chance, Anna?

ANNA: I am, yes. Why? Has he mentioned me in his letters?

Mrs Bates just smiles in reply, and starts to pour.

MRS BATES: So what is it you want to know?

ANNA: I want to know the truth about the case against him. I want to know why the sergeant thought it was ‘odd'. I want to know what Mr Bates isn't saying.

MRS BATES: Because you don't believe him to be guilty?

ANNA: No, I don't. I know he's not.

This pleases the older woman as she gives Anna a cup.

MRS BATES: Well, you're right of course.

ANNA: Then, who was it? Who was the thief?

MRS BATES: His wife. Vera.

William, Daisy and Gwen are staring at the telephone.

WILLIAM: Who do you call if no one you know has got one?

GWEN: But they will have. You'll see.

CARSON (V.O.): Might I enquire why my pantry has become a common room?

WILLIAM: Sorry, Mr Carson. But do you know how it works?

CARSON: Of course I do.

DAISY: Will you show us?

CARSON: Certainly not! A telephone is not a toy, but a useful and valuable tool. Now get back to your work.

They file out. Carson closes the door. He takes down the earpiece and squints at it, upside down and right way up, as he blows into the speaking tube. He hasn't got a clue.

MRS BATES: She worked at the barracks sometimes, helping at big dinners and so on. That night her opportunity came and she took it. They knew it was her. Someone even saw her with a big carry-all.

ANNA: The one that was in his quarters.

MRS BATES: Sitting right there. I knew he'd put it out to take back in the morning. But he never said.

ANNA: Why not? But why did he confess?

Mrs Bates sighs wearily. This is the hardest part for her.

MRS BATES: Well, John wasn't the same man in those days. The African war had shaken him up and made him angry. He'd been wounded, and he drank a lot, more than was good for him …
*

ANNA: Was he violent?

MRS BATES: No, not violent, but he could be hard at times with a tongue like a razor. He felt he'd ruined Vera's life, Miss Smith. That she'd never have gone wrong but for his treatment of her.

ANNA: Do you agree with him?

MRS BATES: No. I thought she was a nasty piece of work. And her behaviour since has proved me right. But that's why he took the blame.

ANNA: Surely, if everyone knew he was innocent …

MRS BATES: But he confessed. It wasn't their fault. There was nothing anybody could do, once he'd confessed.

THOMAS: I hope everything's going well?

Doctor Clarkson is being seen out by Thomas. He nods.

CLARKSON: Oh, yes. I think so.

THOMAS: Could I ask you something, sir? Only … I get the feeling that a war's on the way.

CLARKSON: I'm afraid we all do.

THOMAS: And when it comes, I want to be really useful to my country.

CLARKSON: How heartening!

THOMAS: So I've been thinking. What could be more useful than what you do? Bringing people back to health. Back to life.

CLARKSON: I see. Well, we are looking for volunteers to train for the Territorial Force hospitals if that's what you mean.

THOMAS: It's exactly what I mean.

CLARKSON: Will you not be missed here?

THOMAS: Maybe. But we'll all be going, won't we? The younger men anyway.

CLARKSON: As you wish. I'll make enquiries.