Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (20 page)

ROBERT: Did you have a good day?

KEMAL: Couldn't have been better.

Carson takes Thomas over to Pamuk after his moment with Robert is over and Robert has turned to Evelyn who's coming through.

CARSON: This is Thomas, sir. He will be looking after you.

KEMAL: Oh, I thought—

He looks over to Evelyn who shrugs as he hears Mary speak.

MARY: You remember Mr Napier.

CORA: Of course. How are you?

EVELYN: It's so kind of you to have us, Lady Grantham.

MARY: And this is Mr Pamuk.

CORA: How do you do?

During this, Pamuk has used the jack for his boots and given his coat to Thomas, so he stands in his shirtsleeves. Her eyes register his beauty, which amuses Robert.

ROBERT: Now, what would you like? Something to eat?

MARY: Baths first, then eggs in our rooms. Once we've shed our outer garments.

As soon as she came in, Anna held a boot-pull for her and took her muddy coat. There's a mass of movement throughout.

THOMAS: Your cases are upstairs, sir. If you'd like to follow me.

As he and Pamuk walk past, he glances over to a slightly open door where O'Brien, Gwen and Anna are all craning to see the visitor. His look of delight to O'Brien says it all. Behind the door, the women pull back.

GWEN: He doesn't look Turkish at all.

ANNA: Well, he doesn't look like any Englishman I've ever met, worse luck. I think he's beautiful.

The door opens to reveal Carson.

CARSON: Is there some crisis of which I am unaware?

O'BRIEN: No, Mr Carson.

CARSON: I cannot think of another reason why you should congregate here.

ANNA: No, Mr Carson.

They turn and head back down towards the kitchens.

Bates is helping Robert dress for dinner.

ROBERT: Have you seen our visitor? Quite a treat for the ladies.

BATES: Indeed, m'lord.

ROBERT: Are they settled in all right?

BATES: I believe so. Mr Napier's valet seems a competent fellow, and Thomas knows what he's doing.

ROBERT: Why doesn't the gorgeous Turk have his own chap?

BATES: Apparently his man speaks no English, so Mr Pamuk decided to leave him in London.

ROBERT: Probably very wise. I hope Thomas doesn't mind.

BATES: You know Thomas, m'lord. He has to have a grumble, but I gather he cheered up when he saw the gentleman.

Robert makes no comment, but he gives Bates a humorous look, which Bates returns, then without warning, he winces.

ROBERT: Bates? Is anything wrong?

BATES: Nothing at all, m'lord. Is that strap too tight?

He adjusts the strap on the back of the white waistcoat.

Thomas stands near Kemal who is also getting into his white waistcoat. Thomas steps forward.

THOMAS: Shall I adjust it, sir?

He tightens the band round the back of Kemal's waist, letting his hands linger.

KEMAL: Now I'm relying on you to see that I go downstairs properly dressed. I'm a stranger to England and English ways.

THOMAS: Don't worry, sir. I've got sharp eyes for anything out of order.

This amuses Kemal who smiles warmly at the footman.

KEMAL: Then I put myself entirely in your hands.

THOMAS: You do right, sir.

Thomas misinterprets Kemal's tone which, in his defence, could easily seem flirtatious. He hands Kemal a tie.

THOMAS (CONT'D): I should love to visit Turkey.

Kemal is slightly surprised by this remark, which we register. But he is feeling friendly.

KEMAL: It's a wonderful country.

He starts to tie his white bow tie, but he fluffs it.

KEMAL (CONT'D): My man always does this. Can you?

Thomas steps in and takes over the tie. Now the two men stand close, face to face. Thomas is in bliss.

THOMAS: I'm very attracted to the Turkish culture.

KEMAL: Then I hope your chance will come to sample it.

Unfortunately, Thomas hears this as a direct invitation. He lifts his hand from the tie to Kemal's cheek.

THOMAS: I hope so, too.

Kemal moves away sharply. His voice is entirely different.

KEMAL: You forget yourself.

Thomas has misjudged. He could be in big trouble.

THOMAS: I'm sorry, sir. I thought—

KEMAL: That will teach you not to believe what the English say about foreigners.

He is standing very still, staring at the servant.

KEMAL (CONT'D): I ought to report you.

THOMAS: I think you must have mistaken—

KEMAL: I mistook nothing. But I will make you an offer.

Thomas waits to hear his fate.

KEMAL (CONT'D): Later tonight, I may need your help with the geography of the house. I'll know more when you help me undress.

THOMAS: The geography?

KEMAL: I'm not sure yet, but I may wish to pay someone a visit. If that is the case you'll help me, and I will say nothing about your behaviour.
*

Thomas doesn't know whether to be relieved or jealous.

The Granthams, their daughters, Violet, the Crawleys, Evelyn and Kemal Pamuk are all in the middle of dinner.

VIOLET: I don't understand. Why would she want to be a secretary?

MATTHEW: She wants a different life.

VIOLET: But why? I should far prefer to be a maid in a large and pleasant house, than work from dawn 'til dusk in a cramped and gloomy office. Don't you agree, Carson?

CARSON: I do, m'lady.

MARY: Why are we talking about this? What does it matter?

CORA: It matters whether the people who live and work here are content.

SYBIL: Of course. We should be helping Gwen if that's what she wants.
†

ISOBEL: I agree. Surely we must all encourage those less fortunate to improve their lot where they can.

VIOLET: Not if it isn't in their best interests.

ISOBEL: Isn't the maid a better judge of that than we?

This is aimed at Violet as a direct challenge.

MARY: What do you say, Mr Pamuk? Should our housemaid be kept enslaved or forced out into the world?

KEMAL: Why are you English so curious about each other's lives? If she wishes to leave and the law permits it, then let her go.

VIOLET: Perhaps the law should not permit it, for the common good.

ISOBEL: So you hanker for the days of serfdom?

VIOLET: I hanker for a simpler world. Is that a crime?

KEMAL: I too dream of a simpler world. As long as we can keep our trains and our dentistry.

He laughs towards Mary on his left. She whispers.

MARY: I wish I shared your enthusiasm. Our dentist is horrid.

KEMAL: Why go to him?

MARY: Oh, he treated all of us when we were children. You know how the English are about these things. But he smells of carbolic and mint and he has blunt fingers like fat glove-stretchers.
*

KEMAL: Well, the next time you feel a twinge you must come to Istanbul.

MARY: Wouldn't the journey be painful?

KEMAL: Sometimes we must endure a little pain in order to achieve satisfaction.

There is a startling invitation here. Evelyn, on her other side, is aware of this exchange though he cannot hear it.

EVELYN: Lady Mary rode very well today.

ROBERT: Why did you send Lynch back?

MARY: I had my champions to left and right. It was enough.

Again, the smile she bestows is for Kemal not Evelyn.

ROBERT: Did you enjoy the hunt, Mr Napier? Mary tells me you had a tremendous run.

EVELYN: It was like something out of a Trollope novel.

But his discomfort at what he is witnessing is clear.

CORA: What about you, Mr Pamuk. Was the day a success?

KEMAL: Oh yes, Lady Grantham. I can hardly remember a better one.

The look that he shares with Mary shows it isn't over yet.

Carson, Thomas and William are serving the guests from a side table holding coffee and various after dinner drinks.

ROBERT: Mary's got more suitors tonight than the Princess Aurora.

VIOLET: But will she judge them sensibly?

ROBERT: No one's sensible at her age. Nor should they be. That's our job.

Mary wanders over towards Evelyn and Matthew.

MATTHEW: Was it fun to be back in the saddle?

MARY: Yes. Although I'll pay for it tomorrow.

MATTHEW: Would you ever come out with me?

His friendliness has taken her by surprise.

MATTHEW (CONT'D): Or aren't we friends enough for that?

He has put her on the spot with this. She smiles slightly.

MARY: Oh, I think it might be—

But Kemal is trying to catch her eye from across the room.

EVELYN: That run reminded me of a day last month up in Cheshire—

Kemal is nodding towards an open door.

EVELYN (CONT'D): We came down the side of a hill—

MARY: Excuse me.

She hurries away towards Kemal. Evelyn breaks off.

MATTHEW: It seems we must brush up on our powers of fascination.

EVELYN: I was a fool to bring him here.

MATTHEW: Don't you like him?

EVELYN: I like him very much. But so does everyone else, unfortunately.

Edith has arrived to speak to them.

MATTHEW: I hope I didn't wear you out today.

EDITH: Not at all. I enjoyed it. We must do it again.

MATTHEW: Next time let's take my mother. She was so jealous, she made me promise she could come with us.

EDITH: Of course.

She answers brightly but her campaign has failed. During this, Mary has slipped away through the open door.

Mary comes in to find Kemal alone, waiting for her.

MARY: What is it?

KEMAL: Is this picture really a della Francesca?

MARY: I think so. The second Earl bought back several paintings from his Grand Tour and—

As she approaches the picture, he suddenly pulls her into his arms and kisses her passionately. She breaks away.

MARY (CONT'D): Mr Pamuk—

KEMAL: Let me come to you tonight. Please.

MARY: I can't think what I've said that has led you to believe—

KEMAL: Please. I don't know when we will meet again, so let it be tonight.
L'audace. Toujours l'audace
.

She looks at him in silence, gathering her strength.

MARY: Mr Pamuk, I will not repeat your words to my father, since I should hate to see you cast out into the darkness. But can we agree to consider them unsaid? Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall rejoin my mother and sisters.

She leaves him, but he is not completely cast down. Instead he smiles softly, whispering, this time to himself.

KEMAL:
L'audace. Toujours l'audace
. It seems the game is not over yet.