Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (41 page)

He's taken her arm, as the thug from the truck steps out.

BRANSON: Look, I'm on your side. Don't cause any trouble. You have to believe me!

But the thug pushes him away, and squares up to Matthew.

THUG: What's your problem, Mr la-di-da?

MATTHEW: My problem is you.

The thug lunges at him. Matthew hits him back and they are brawling. Sybil runs forward as Matthew punches the man.

SYBIL: Stop it! This moment!

As the thug falls, he catches her jaw. She goes down, gashing her temple on the edge of a table.

BRANSON: Oh, no. Oh, please God, no!

He takes her up in his arms, as tenderly as a father with his child. All of which is seen by Matthew.

MATTHEW: This way.

He clears a path through the seething crush, with Branson following in his wake, carrying the unconscious girl.

MATTHEW (CONT'D): Where's the car?

BRANSON: Over there! By the bank!

They push through the crowds. At last they get her into the vehicle. With Matthew tending to her, Branson drives away.

Robert, Cora, Mary and Edith are together after dinner. Pharaoh is by the fire.

CORA: She ought to be back by now.

ROBERT: Those meetings can go on forever.

EDITH: What do you think I should wear next Friday? I thought about the green with the brown trimming, but it might be a bit wintery.

MARY: Are we really going to spend a week discussing your clothes?

CORA: You look very nice in the green.

EDITH: Then I wondered about the pink, but is it too grand for York?

During this, Mary is distracted by William, who is removing a cup and saucer from a side table. As he is doing so, he catches her eye and nods towards the door. She looks over. Gwen is waiting there. She signs for Mary to come.

MARY: I think I might go up.

CORA: It's very early.

MARY: I really can't spend the evening reviewing Edith's wardrobe.

She kisses her parents and walks out of the room.

Mary is coming from the drawing room where she finds Gwen. Gwen leads her away from the drawing room door.

GWEN: I've fetched a coat.

MARY: Why? What do I need a coat for?

Gwen just holds the garment open, as Branson steps forward. Mary hadn't noticed him. He speaks in a low voice.

BRANSON: I've come to fetch you, m'lady. We've taken Lady Sybil to Crawley House. In the village.

This strikes panic in Mary's heart although she, too, whispers.

MARY: What's happened?

BRANSON: I took her to Ripon for the count. She got caught in a fight.

Mary raises her hand to her mouth in horror.

MARY: Take me there at once.

Without another word, she hurries out of the front door.

Mary enters and approaches the sofa where Sybil lies, a gash at her temple and blood down the side of her face, which Isobel, in a dressing gown, is just beginning to wash away with hot water. There's a bottle of iodine on a tray. Matthew is there. He glances up at Mary as she sees the invalid.

MARY: My God! Oh, my darling …

MATTHEW: I didn't know what to do, so I had Branson bring her here.

MARY: Quite right. Mama would have fainted if she'd seen her like this. As for Papa …

She rolls her eyes heavenward, as she kneels and takes her sister's hand. Sybil is just about awake.

ISOBEL: This will sting a bit. But it's stopped bleeding.

She puts iodine on the cut. She looks at Matthew.

ISOBEL (CONT'D): Did you know she was planning this?

MATTHEW: Of course not.

ISOBEL: Well, what were you doing there?

MATTHEW: I was working late. I'd forgotten it was election night or I wouldn't have stayed.

SYBIL: I'm so grateful you did.

MARY: I could wring Branson's neck.

MATTHEW: What was he thinking? I'm afraid it'll cost him his job.

SYBIL: No. I told him he was taking me to a committee meeting. When he realised what it was, he wanted to come straight back.

MARY: You'll have to stick up for him, because Papa will skin him alive.

Matthew crouches down to be on a level with the invalid.

MATTHEW: Are you feeling strong enough to go home?

SYBIL: I think so. If you'll take me.

As he bends to help her up, Mary looks at him, this strong man, but just as she feels herself admiring him, she notices a new look in her sister's eyes. It is one of hero worship. Isobel has seen the look too, and unconsciously glances at Mary. They both know what is going on.

MARY: Pull your hair forward and here, wear my coat to cover the blood. You'll look more normal.

Her tone is quite brisk. Matthew helps Sybil into the coat.

MATTHEW: Lean on me.

The other women stand back as they go out.

MARY: Thank you so much for this.
*

ISOBEL: I hope your parents won't punish her too harshly.

MARY: Don't worry. Papa talks a good punishment, but he seldom delivers … By the way, what happened to William's mother?

ISOBEL: Not good, I'm afraid. She's at home but she's very weak. Another attack should finish her.

MARY: And he still doesn't know?

ISOBEL: She's adamant. I've tried to explain how hard it'll be on him, but she won't have him disturbed. To hear her talk, you'd think he was a Cabinet Minister.

MARY: He's made her proud. There are plenty of children in grander circumstances who'd love to say the same.

Something in her tone interests Isobel, but they go out.

Carson has the vault open and he carefully places the evening's silver inside. Mrs Hughes is in the doorway.

MRS HUGHES: I wish you'd tell me what's troubling you. If it's this business with Mr Bates—

CARSON: It's not that. I'll get to the bottom of that.

MRS HUGHES: Well, I hope you'll do it soon. If there's one thing I hate it's an ‘atmosphere' and we've got a real atmosphere going now.

CARSON: I'll see them all tonight. When the family's gone to bed.

MRS HUGHES: Good. It's an unfair rumour which needs to be scotched.

CARSON: It's very hard to hear the names of people you love dragged in the mud. You feel so powerless.

Mrs Hughes is surprised at this turn of the conversation.

MRS HUGHES: Well, I respect Mr Bates but I don't know that I love him.

CARSON: I wasn't thinking of Mr Bates.

DAISY (V.O.): Mr Carson, have you got a minute?

The King and Queen of below stairs look down at this speck.

MRS HUGHES: What is it, Daisy? Mr Carson's a very busy man.

DAISY: I know he is. But I think he'll want to hear this … I've told you something that wasn't true.

CARSON: Why would you do that?

DAISY: I did it as a favour to a friend. But I know now he was wrong to ask it of me.

Carson and Mrs Hughes exchange a glance. She is delighted.

Matthew is helping Sybil into the house. Branson stands watching. Mary is also going in when Branson speaks.

BRANSON: She's not badly hurt, is she?

MARY: I don't think so, no.

BRANSON: Thank God.

The force of his words is almost startling. She smiles.

MARY: Better be prepared. I'm afraid Lord Grantham will hit the roof.

BRANSON: I never would have taken her there. I may be a Socialist but I'm not a lunatic.

MARY: I'm not sure Papa knows the difference.

She smiles. The fact she is joking makes things better.

BRANSON: You'll let me know how she gets on? Please.

MARY: If you wish.

And she goes in, leaving the lovelorn chauffeur alone.
*

Cora, Sybil, Mary and Edith witness Robert's fury.

ROBERT: How dare you?
How dare you
disobey me in this way?

CORA: Robert, I'm sure—

ROBERT: Are you so knowledgeable about the great world that my instructions are to be set as
nothing?

Matthew looks up at the sound of Robert's roar.

SYBIL: Papa, I'm sorry I disobeyed you, but I'm interested! I'm political! I have opinions!

ROBERT: Of course, I blame Branson—

MARY: I don't think that's fair—

ROBERT: We had none of this,
none of it
, before he set foot in our house! I suppose I should give thanks he hasn't burned the place down over our heads!

SYBIL: Branson didn't know anything about it, until we arrived there.

ROBERT: He leaves tonight!

SYBIL: If you punish Branson, I will never speak to you again.
Never!

Robert hesitates. This isn't what he wants, which Mary sees.

MARY: I don't believe this is Branson's fault. Truly, Papa.

SYBIL: Blame me—

ROBERT: I do blame you!

CORA: Robert, can we do this in the morning? Sybil needs rest.

SYBIL: But if I find tomorrow that Branson is missing, I'll run away. I warn you.

She is so definite that Robert is tempted to laugh.

ROBERT: Oh? And where will you go?

Sybil tries to come up with an answer …

SYBIL: Well, I can't think now. But I
will
go and you'll be sorry!

Robert is calm now as he looks at his anguished daughter.

ROBERT: I should be sorry. Very sorry, indeed.

Robert, Mary and Edith shut the door. Pharaoh waits there.

MARY: We must go down. Matthew will think we're all dead.

EDITH: Poor Papa. Sybil was terribly wrong to do what she did.

As Robert walks to the stairs, Mary turns to her sister.

MARY: Stop meddling and go to bed.

MATTHEW: How is she?

He is by the fire as they come down, followed by the dog. Robert shakes his head with exasperation, so Mary speaks.

MARY: She'll be perfectly fine.

ROBERT: I gather you're the shining knight in all this.

MATTHEW: Not really. But I'm glad I was there.

ROBERT: So am I, by heaven. If it had been left to that bloody fool, Branson … You should see what he reads. It's all Marx and Ruskin and John Stuart Mill. I ask you.

MARY: Papa prefers the servants to read the Bible and letters from home.

Mrs Hughes has entered the hall.

MRS HUGHES: There are sandwiches for Mr Crawley in the dining room, Lady Mary.

MARY: Thank you, Mrs Hughes.

The housekeeper leaves. This is a pleasant development.

MARY (CONT'D): We couldn't let you starve.