Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (7 page)

ANNA: Well, I'm going for my dinner. You two can stay here plotting.

Bates is trying to open a door in the kitchen passage. He carries boots, and his stick is making things awkward.

ANNA (V.O.): Let me.

She has come upon him unawares.

BATES: There's no need.

She looks at him, understanding his predicament.

ANNA: Mr Bates, anyone can have their hands full.

She holds the door for him. For once, his guard is down.

BATES: Thank you.

ANNA: We'd better get moving, or they'll start without us.

BATES: Just let them try.

He chuckles. By now, Anna is definitely a friend.

The Dower House is an attractive villa in the park.

Watched by Cora, Violet is reading a letter.

VIOLET: So the young Duke of Crowborough is asking himself to stay.

CORA: And we know why.

VIOLET: You hope you know why. That is not at all the same. What does Robert say?

CORA: Not much. Except Crowborough's had plenty of chances to speak before now if he'd wanted to. But Robert's being so stubborn about everything at the moment.

Violet queries this with a look.

CORA (CONT'D): You've heard about his new valet?

VIOLET: My maid told me.

CORA: It's really too tiresome that he won't see sense.

VIOLET: On that or anything else.

CORA: Amen.

VIOLET (CONT'D): You realise the Duke thinks that Mary's prospects have altered.

CORA: I suppose so.

VIOLET: There's no ‘suppose' about it.

She has risen and now she glances approvingly into a glass.

VIOLET (CONT'D): Of course this is exactly the sort of opportunity that will come to Mary, if we can only get things settled in her favour. Is Robert coming round?

CORA: Not yet. To him, the risk is we'd succeed in saving my money but not the estate. He feels he'd be betraying his duty if Downton was lost because of him.

VIOLET: Well, I'm going to write to Murray.

CORA: He won't say anything different.

VIOLET: Well, we have to start somewhere.
Our
duty is to Mary.

Cora does not disagree, even if she is not optimistic.

VIOLET (CONT'D): What do the other girls say? Do they know about Crowborough?

CORA: Not yet. Why?

VIOLET: I used to think Edith had a soft spot for Patrick … It won't please her to see Mary a duchess.

CORA: Oh, no. Edith liked Patrick. We all did. But there was no more to it than that.

With a look of pity, Violet hands the letter back.

VIOLET: Well, give him a date for when Mary's out of mourning. No one wants to kiss a girl in black.

She knows her business, this one.

The screen is filled with the image of Mary, in ravishing shades of pink and mauve and lilac.

EDITH (V.O.): Do stop admiring yourself. He's not marrying you for your looks.

The other two girls are with Mary who sits before a glass.

EDITH: That's if he wants to marry you at all.

MARY: He will.

SYBIL: You look beautiful.

MARY: Thank you, Sybil, darling.

Casually, she blows Sybil a kiss. Cora appears.

CORA: We should go down. They'll be back from the station any moment.

Her daughters file out past her. But she stops Mary and removes a flower from her hair.

CORA (CONT'D): Let's not gild the lily, dear.

Mary says nothing. She stops as her mother speaks again.

CORA (CONT'D): And Mary, try to look surprised.

Carson is addressing his team, who seem tidy and prepared.

CARSON: Are you all ready? Very well. We will go out to greet them.

DAISY: And me, Mr Carson?

CARSON: No, Daisy. Not you. Can you manage, Mr Bates? Or would you rather wait here?

Bates is walking out with the others. He stops patiently.

BATES: I want to go, Mr Carson.

CARSON: There is no obligation for the whole staff to be present.

BATES: I'd like to be there.

CARSON: Well, it's certainly a great day for Downton, to welcome a duke under our roof.

At this, O'Brien rolls her eyes at Thomas. But he is taken up. He mutters to his underling, William.

THOMAS: Remember to help me with the luggage. Don't go running off.

BATES: I'll give you a hand.

THOMAS: Oh, I couldn't ask that, Mr Bates, not in your condition.

This sentence poses as care but it is of course an insult. Bates moves off. Thomas turns to Carson.

THOMAS (CONT'D): How long do we have to put up with this, Mr Carson? Just so I know.

The servants file out of the kitchen court to the entrance where they form a line as the car arrives. Mrs Patmore and her staff spy from behind a screen of bushes. Cora emerges with the girls, followed by Pharaoh, who greets Robert as he gets out of the car. He's with a most superior-looking fellow, Philip, Duke of Crowborough.

ROBERT: Welcome to Downton.

CROWBOROUGH: This is so kind of you, Lady Grantham.

CORA: Not at all, Duke. I'm delighted you could spare the time. You know my daughter Mary, of course.

CROWBOROUGH: Of course. Lady Mary.

He gives a secret smile to Mary, who is thrilled.

CORA: And Edith. But I don't believe you've met my youngest, Sybil.

CROWBOROUGH: Lady Sybil.

SYBIL: How do you do.

He has taken the girl's hand with a slight bow and she blushes. She is really charming. And Mary intervenes.

MARY: Come on in. You must be worn out.

Then he remembers something and turns back to her mother.

CROWBOROUGH: Lady Grantham, I've a confession to make which I hope won't cause too much bother … My man was taken ill just as I was leaving—

ROBERT: Oh well, that won't be a problem, will it Carson?

CARSON: Certainly not. I shall look after His Grace, myself.

CROWBOROUGH: I wouldn't dream of being such a nuisance. Surely, a footman—

He stops and looks at Thomas.

CROWBOROUGH (CONT'D): I remember this man. Didn't you serve me when I dined with Lady Grantham in London?

THOMAS: I did, Your Grace.

Crowborough looks back smiling at Robert and Carson.

CROWBOROUGH: There we are. We will do very well together, won't we …?

THOMAS: Uh, Thomas, Your Grace.

CROWBOROUGH: Thomas.

He turns back to Mary. The servants bow and curtsey as the guest passes them. Until O'Brien hooks Bates's stick with her foot and he, taken unawares, falls. He knows who did it, but when he glances at her, she looks away.

ROBERT: Bates? Are you all right?

BATES: Perfectly, m'lord. I apologise.

With the help of Anna and William, he gets to his feet. The incident is over. O'Brien is already on her way back to the house. The footmen take the luggage in. The car drives off.

ANNA: Hold still.

She starts to brush the dust off Bates's coat.

ANNA: That's better.

She smiles, but now her warmth has the wrong effect.

BATES: Please don't feel sorry for me.

But of course she does.

The Duke is in the door of a bedroom where Thomas unpacks.

CROWBOROUGH: Is it all straightforward?

THOMAS: Yes, thank you, Your Grace.

Now we see that Mary is also watching from the gallery.

MARY: What shall we do? What would you like to do?

He pretends to ponder this as he walks away from the room.

CROWBOROUGH: I'd rather like to go exploring.

MARY: Certainly. Gardens or house?

CROWBOROUGH: Oh, the house I think. Gardens are all the same to me.

MARY: Very well. We can begin in the hall which is one of the oldest—

She is walking towards the staircase but this is not it.

CROWBOROUGH: No. Not all those drawing rooms and libraries …

MARY: I'm not certain I understand.

CROWBOROUGH: What about the parts of the house which no one sees?

MARY: The kitchens, you mean?

CROWBOROUGH: Even the kitchens must be full of people at this time of day.

MARY: Well, what then?

CROWBOROUGH: I don't know … the secret passages and the attics …

She's puzzled by his approach. But after a second she nods.

MARY: It seems a bit odd, but why not? I'll just tell Mama—

CROWBOROUGH: No, don't tell your Mama.

MARY: But there's nothing wrong in it.

CROWBOROUGH: No, indeed. I'm only worried the others might want to join us.

This is very bold. And naturally she is delighted.

William comes up the stairs, carrying the Duke's cases. He is observed by Mrs Hughes, on her rounds.

MRS HUGHES: Thomas should have done that. If he's so keen to be a valet.

WILLIAM: I don't mind.

He stops before a door but both his hands are full.

MRS HUGHES: I'll do it.

She opens the door of a luggage room, where cases are neatly stacked on both sides. She watches from the door.

Cora is alone with Robert, who strokes Pharaoh, idly.

CORA: Mary's settling him in.

ROBERT: Cora, don't let Mary make a fool of herself.

This is rather worrying for the anxious mother.

ROBERT (CONT'D): By the way I'm going up to London next week.

CORA: Do you want to open the house?

ROBERT: No, no. I'll take Bates and stay at the club. I won't be more than a day or two.

Naturally, she is interested.

CORA: I see. Are things progressing?

ROBERT: What ‘things'?

He looks at her, knowing what she wants him to say.

ROBERT (CONT'D): It's just a regimental dinner.

Which is frustrating and makes her angry.

CORA: It's a pity Bates spoilt the arrival this afternoon.

ROBERT: He didn't spoil anything. He fell over.

CORA: It was so undignified. Carson hates that kind of thing.

ROBERT: I don't care what Carson thinks.

Robert is wrong-footed when the door opens on Carson.

CARSON: A message from the Dowager Countess, m'lady. She says she won't come to tea but she'll join you for dinner.

Cora and Robert exchange a glance.

ROBERT: Carson, I hope you weren't embarrassed this afternoon. I can assure you the Duke very much appreciated his welcome.