Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (42 page)

MATTHEW: You really didn't have to.

ROBERT: Mary, look after Matthew while I go up and revive your mother.

The young couple head towards the dining room door. Unaware that Robert smiles hopefully at the dog as he watches them.

Thomas, O'Brien, Bates and Daisy are lined up on one side, facing Carson, Mrs Hughes and Anna.

CARSON: Do you stand by your story?

THOMAS: I don't have a story.

CARSON: You saw Mr Bates in here alone, hanging up the cellar key. To me, that is a story.

THOMAS: I only said I might have seen him. I suppose I was wrong.

CARSON: And Miss O'Brien, were you wrong when you thought you saw Mr Bates carrying a bottle?

ANNA: You wicked creature.

MRS HUGHES: Anna! You are here to watch, not to participate.

O'BRIEN: I don't think I was wrong, no.

CARSON: What do you say to that, Mr Bates?

He has addressed Bates, who speaks quite calmly.

BATES: I know this to be untrue because I have no need for it. Since I arrived at Downton, you have never seen me drink one drop of alcohol.

ANNA: He's right. He never touches it.

MRS HUGHES: I knew that. Why didn't I think?

CARSON: Let us say, then, that Miss O'Brien was mistaken.

ANNA: Mistaken, my eye.

CARSON: And Daisy, we all know the value of your contribution.

DAISY: Yes, Mr Carson.

She hangs her head in shame.

CARSON: But I must ask one thing, Mr Bates: how did you know the wine had been taken?

Thomas hears this as the death knell of his career at Downton. He looks at Bates but Bates does not look at him.

BATES: I'm afraid I can't answer that.
*

On the table, Matthew sits at a place laid with sandwiches, fruit, a carafe of red wine, a jug of water and glasses for both. Mary's with him. He lifts the carafe.

MATTHEW: Will you have some? We can drink to Sybil's safe return.

MARY: Why not? I'll ring for a glass.

MATTHEW: Never mind that. Here.

He pushes the wine glass over to her, pours, and then slops some into the water glass for himself.

MARY: You're not very fastidious about doing things properly.

MATTHEW: Are you?

MARY: Less than you might think.

They raise their glasses.

MATTHEW: Are you at all political?

MARY: Yes. But with a hung Parliament, it's hard to get excited about a by-election. You know nothing will change, whoever gets in …

O'Brien and Thomas and Daisy are leaving. Anna is following them, when Bates interrupts, shutting the door.

BATES: If I might keep you for a minute more, Mr Carson?

MRS HUGHES: If you'd like me to leave …?

BATES: No, I'd like you to stay Mrs Hughes. And you, Anna.

They wait for what is coming. And he is ready.

BATES (CONT'D): You have decided to take no action over the allegations Thomas has made against me because you believe them to be untrue.

CARSON: That is correct.

BATES: And you are right. There's no truth in them.

Which, to a degree, relaxes them.

BATES (CONT'D): But if you were to proceed with the matter, you would find them to be proven.

This is odd. No one speaks until Bates resumes.

BATES (CONT'D): Thomas has tried to convince you I'm a drunkard and a thief.

ANNA: Which we never believed—

BATES: Because you know no different. Until a couple of years ago, I was a drunkard. And I was imprisoned as a thief.

This could not be more startling if a bomb had gone off.

BATES (CONT'D): I have repaid your kindness very poorly. I masqueraded as a man of honour and integrity, but by any moral code, I am disgraced.

CARSON: Does his lordship know this?

BATES: No. He too, like you, has been my dupe. Which neither of you has merited. And I apologise.

His humiliation fills Mrs Hughes with pity.

MRS HUGHES: That can't be the whole story.

BATES: Perhaps not. But it's enough of it to demand my resignation.

Carson appears to consider this for a moment.

CARSON: Do you want to leave, Mr Bates?

BATES: No. But I feel I have no choice.

CARSON: You owe me a say in the matter, surely?

BATES: If you wish.

CARSON: Then I will consider the case and give my decision, when I've discussed it with his lordship. Until then, I hope you will remain in your post.

Bates gives a slight nod of assent.

CARSON (CONT'D): And now I think we should all get some rest.

Without another word, Bates and Anna leave.

CARSON (CONT'D): There's a question to ponder.

MRS HUGHES: What? How were we all taken in?

CARSON: No. How so fine a man was brought so low. Well, well. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I will not judge them lest I be judged.

MRS HUGHES: Them? Who else is there?

CARSON: Good night, Mrs Hughes.

MRS HUGHES: Will you use this to get rid of Thomas?

CARSON: How can I? What evidence do I have? If Mr Bates will not testify against his tormentor?

The painful interview is at an end.

MARY: Thank you for coming to Sybil's rescue. You were very brave. She told me you knocked the man down.

MATTHEW: I hope I did my duty.

MARY: Are you a creature of duty?

He is taken aback, but she wants to find out some answers.

MATTHEW: Not entirely.

MARY: When you laugh with me, or flirt with me, is that a duty? Are you conforming to the fitness of things? Doing what's expected?

MATTHEW: Don't play with me. I don't deserve it. Not from you.

There is a moment of intensity between them, then …

MARY: You must be careful not to break Sybil's heart. I watched her tonight at your mother's house. I think she has a crush on you.

He looks at Mary for a moment, as she sips her wine.

MATTHEW: That's something no one could accuse you of.

MARY: Oh, I don't know.

She speaks quite carefully, looking from under her lashes.

MATTHEW: I assume you speak in a spirit of mockery.

MARY: You should have more faith.

MATTHEW: Shall I remind you of some of your choicest remarks about me, when I arrived here? Because they live in my memory as fresh as the day they were spoken.

MARY: Oh, Matthew. What am I always telling you? You must pay no attention to the things I say.

When they kiss, it is a long kiss, all the more passionate for being delayed far longer than it should have been.

ANNA: Mr Bates.

BATES: Anna.

ANNA: Will you really leave?

BATES: I doubt if his lordship wants a thief in the house. Now go to sleep and dream of a better man.

ANNA: I can't. Because there isn't one.

He looks at her and on an impulse puts his arms around her and kisses her. He does love her, as much as she loves him.
*

BATES: There. If you want to know how I feel, then that's how I feel. But I'm only telling you because I'm going, and even you can see that nothing will come of it now.

The noise of the hall boys' arrival breaks them apart. Anna walks away.

Cora is alone in bed, reading, when Mary comes in.

CORA: Has Matthew gone?

MARY: Yes.

CORA: Thank the Lord he was there. Of course your father's right. We ought to sack Branson.

CORA (CONT'D): I hope you thanked Matthew properly.

MARY: I got them to make him some sandwiches.

CORA: It's not quite what I meant.

MARY: And he asked me to marry him.

CORA: Heavens! What did they put in them?

MARY: I'm serious. He proposed to me.

Cora sees that her daughter is indeed serious.

CORA: Oh, my dear. Have you given him an answer?

MARY: Only that I'd think about it.

CORA: Well, that's an advance on what it would have been a year ago. Do you want to marry him?

MARY: I know
you
want me to marry him.

CORA: What we want doesn't matter.

Then she hears her own words and disagrees with them.

CORA (CONT'D): At least, it's not
all
that matters. Do you love Matthew?

MARY: Yes. I think perhaps I do. I think I may have loved him for much longer than I knew.

CORA: Oh my darling. Let's not pretend this isn't the answer to every one of our prayers.

Mary stands and peers out at the stars.

MARY: I'd have to tell him.

CORA: Oh … Is it absolutely necessary?

MARY: If I didn't, I'd feel as if I'd caught him with a lie.
*

Before Cora can argue, the door opens and Robert comes in, dressed for bed. Mary smiles.

MARY (CONT'D): I hope you know that
really
smart people sleep in separate rooms.

ROBERT: I always have the bed made up in the dressing room, so at least I
pretend
we sleep apart. Isn't that enough?

MARY: No. But never mind. Good night.

She leaves her parents alone.

Thomas and O'Brien are together. Mrs Patmore appears.

MRS PATMORE: Haven't you gone up yet? Blow this out. You're the last. Good night.

THOMAS: Good night.

She climbs the stairs, painfully. The lamp flickers.

THOMAS (CONT'D): I'm going to bloody get him. I don't care what you say.

O'BRIEN: What would I say? Everything comes to him who waits.

THOMAS: Well, I've waited long enough.

He starts upstairs. O'Brien blows out the lamp.

Mary is dressed for riding. William is with her horse.

MARY: Does Carson know you're here?

WILLIAM: I heard you were going out, and I wanted to see how he was walking.

MARY: Lynch is happy for me to ride him.

WILLIAM: Oh, yes. He's better. But I'll wait and see what he's like when you're up.

She nods and would return to the horse, but …

MARY: William, are you planning to go home soon?

WILLIAM: Well, it's a bit far for my half day, but I can maybe get the time to go in July, when the family's in London. That's if I don't go with you, of course.

Mary hesitates then comes to a decision.

MARY: I think you should take a few days off and go now. I'll fix it. I'll speak to father and to Carson. No one will mind.

WILLIAM: But why, m'lady?

MARY: Your mother's not been well.

WILLIAM: How do you know?