Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (39 page)

BATES: What is it that I am accused of?

CARSON: Nobody is ‘accusing' you of anything. But there's been a suggestion you were handling the cellar key. Before I take it any further, I want to find out if there's a simple explanation.

BATES: Because some wine is missing.

CARSON: How do you know that?

Bates is not prepared to explain.

CARSON (CONT'D): Right. Well, we'll leave it there for now.

Sybil is walking towards the Crawleys' front door.

Isobel is with Sybil.

ISOBEL: No, I shan't be going into Ripon on election night and nor should you. Not again. Yesterday was quite frightening enough. What would your father say?

SYBIL: You know how he hates politics. He says that since he's a peer and we're all women, there isn't a vote in the house to be had, and they should leave us alone.

ISOBEL: Well, he's right that politics can be a rough ride. I support women's rights and I'm glad you do. But you won't help the cause by getting caught in a stampede.

SYBIL: But I do so want to go. To feel part of it if Morgan
*
wins, and to support him if he loses.

ISOBEL: Very commendable, but my advice is to do it by post.

The door opens and Matthew comes in.

ISOBEL (CONT'D): Hello. What are you doing here?

MATTHEW: I thought I'd get some luncheon off you. I'm taking down a will in the next village at two.

SYBIL: I ought to be going. Don't bother Molesley.

Matthew shuts the door. Isobel has followed them.

MATTHEW: What did she want?

ISOBEL: A partner in crime.

MATTHEW: Did she get one?

ISOBEL: Not this time.

Edith and Strallan are bowling along in his car.

STRALLAN: The Kaiser is such a mercurial figure, one minute the warlord, the next a lovelorn poet.

EDITH: But a poet in need of an empire.

STRALLAN: That's very good. ‘A poet in need of an empire.' My late wife always used to say …

EDITH: What did Lady Strallan say?

STRALLAN: Never mind.

EDITH: But I should like to hear it.

STRALLAN: Really? Would you, really?

She nods. He is very touched. As she intended him to be.

STRALLAN (CONT'D): She used to say Kaiser Bill loved uniforms and medals but he never really connected them with fighting.

He laughs and Edith laughs, too.

EDITH: What was she like?

STRALLAN: Maud? Oh, she was awfully funny. Some people couldn't see it, but she was …

Edith is doing very well.

William crosses the yard to the woodsheds with a basket, as Mary arrives, leading her horse.

MARY: Is Lynch anywhere about?
*

WILLIAM: I haven't seen him, m'lady.

MARY: My horse is lame.

She stands by the animal. William hesitates.

WILLIAM: I could have a look at him.

MARY: Do you know about horses?

WILLIAM: I grew up on a farm, m'lady.

MARY: Well, if you think you can help.

She stands back and William approaches the animal, handling it confidently and examining its hoof without alarming it.

WILLIAM: He's graveled.

MARY: You mean he's picked up a stone?

WILLIAM: No, it's an infection. From dirt getting in. He must have been shod recently.

MARY: I wouldn't know.

WILLIAM: That's when it starts.

MARY: So, it's not too serious?

WILLIAM: Oh, no. I'll clean it up and put a poultice on.

He starts to lead the horse into its open loose box. Mary watches, eventually leaning on the half door.

MARY: Shouldn't you wait for Lynch?

WILLIAM: He won't mind. He knows I can handle horses.

MARY: Did you look after the horses on your father's farm?

WILLIAM: I did. Best job in the world.

MARY: Then why did you leave it?

WILLIAM: My father wanted me to have a chance of bettering myself.

MARY: As a second footman?

She almost laughs at this preposterous idea.

WILLIAM: It's a good place for me, m'lady.

MARY: Of course it is. I'm sorry.

He has a certain innocent cockiness and it makes her smile.
*

Thomas, O'Brien and Daisy are in there with Carson.

O'BRIEN: I've seen Mr Bates with a bottle from time to time. I must have thought he was helping you.

CARSON: Why would I order a valet to help with the wine?

O'BRIEN: Well, when you put it like that, of course you wouldn't.

CARSON: So, Mr Bates is taking wine? Why would this be? To drink it?

THOMAS: It's not to clean his boots.

CARSON: Thank you, Thomas.

Thomas makes a sign to Daisy to speak, but she does not.

CARSON (CONT'D): Daisy? Thomas says you have something to add to this.

DAISY: Well …

CARSON: You are not in any trouble, or any danger of trouble.

THOMAS: You remember what you saw?

He urges the girl with his eyes. She takes a deep breath.

DAISY: I may have seen him coming out of the cellar.

CARSON:
May?
Did you or didn't you?

But Daisy will not add to her statement.

O'BRIEN: It's very hard for the girl, Mr Carson. You're frightening her.

CARSON: I'm sorry. Thank you. You may go.

O'Brien comes in and puts the tray on the bed.

CORA: Thank you, O'Brien.

O'Brien tidies the coverlet and folds a dressing gown.

CORA (CONT'D): How is everything downstairs?

O'BRIEN: All right I think, m'lady. Though Mr Carson's a bit cast down.

CORA: Oh? Why? What's the matter with him?

O'BRIEN: He's found out something about … well, a person he admires, and it isn't very nice.

Naturally, this confirms Cora's worst fears.

CORA: Has he said who this person is? Who's proved a disappointment?

O'BRIEN: I don't like to say, m'lady.

CORA: Please do. If you know.

O'BRIEN: Oh, I know. It's … Mr Bates.

Cora's relief is almost palpable.

CORA: Oh, Bates. Why? What's he done?

O'BRIEN: You should ask Mr Carson, m'lady, it's not my place to tell.

Sybil comes in to find her father at his desk.

SYBIL: Papa, can Branson drive me into Ripon on Friday evening?

ROBERT: I don't think so, no. Not after the last time.
*

SYBIL: Oh, please. There's a meeting of my borstal charity. I've missed two and I simply must be there.

ROBERT: You'd have to take Mary or Edith.

SYBIL: Don't make me, I beg you. Those meetings are deadly at the best of times, and you know what they're like when they're bored.

ROBERT: Why are all your causes so steeped in gloom?

SYBIL: Because it's gloomy things that need our help. If everything in the garden's sunny, why meddle?

ROBERT: Well, I agree with that. Talking of sunny, are you looking forward to your coming Season?

SYBIL: I am rather … So, it's all right? I can go?

He has been distracted by Pharaoh at his feet. He nods.

ROBERT: Will you be late?

SYBIL: I think I'll miss dinner.

ROBERT: Remember to tell Branson to take a sandwich for himself.

Matthew comes round the house to find Mary, reading.

MARY: Hello. What are you doing here?

MATTHEW: I'm in search of your father. Carson thought he was outside.

MARY: He's in the library. What is it?

MATTHEW: Nothing much. I've had an enquiry about one of the farms.

MARY: Oh.

She accepts this, uninterested but friendly.

MATTHEW: So, what's new at the big house?

MARY: Sybil, mainly. She's discovered politics, which of course makes Papa see red.

MATTHEW: She was trying to get my mother to go to something yesterday.

MARY: Tell her to keep out of it, if she knows what's good for her.

MATTHEW: I admire Sybil's passion, though.

MARY: Of course. But then I like a good argument. Papa does not.

MATTHEW: If you really like an argument—

MARY: Yes?

MATTHEW: We should see more of each other.

Which makes her laugh.

SYBIL: So, it's all right? I can go?

He has been distracted by Pharaoh at his feet. He nods.

ROBERT: Will you be late?

SYBIL: I think I'll miss dinner.

ROBERT: Well, remember to tell Branson to take a sandwich for himself.

Carson is with Mrs Hughes.

MRS HUGHES: Well, I don't believe it.

CARSON: D'you think I
want
to believe it?

MRS HUGHES: I don't trust Thomas or O'Brien further than I could throw them.

CARSON: And Daisy?

MRS HUGHES: That's the hard one. But surely, Mr Bates …?

CARSON: I agree. But I've had some shocks lately, when it comes to thinking you know people. Some bad shocks. And he knew the wine was missing. How was that?

MRS HUGHES: What are you going to do?

CARSON: I'm not sure yet. I think I might get them all together, light the blue paper and see what happens.

MRS HUGHES: Can I watch?

Violet is standing over Cora, who holds a letter.

CORA: But who's it from?

VIOLET: Susan Flintshire.

CORA: What does she say?

VIOLET: Prepare for the worst. Not the first page. My poor niece never uses one word where twenty will do. Start there. ‘I'm sorry to have to tell you …'

CORA: ‘I'm sorry to have to tell you that Hugh has heard a vile story about your granddaughter Mary …'

She stops reading aloud, but her eyes flick back and forth.

VIOLET: Sorry? She's thrilled … now, first I must ask—and I want you to think carefully before you answer—is any of it true?

Cora hesitates. Violet breathes deeply, composing herself.

VIOLET (CONT'D): I see. Some of it
is
true. How much?

Again, Cora is defeated.

VIOLET (CONT'D): Oh, dear.

CORA: She didn't drag him.

VIOLET: I wondered about that. Obviously Susan has forgotten the distance between the girls' rooms and the bachelors' corridor.