Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (48 page)

THOMAS: Thank you very much, Doctor.

Clarkson goes. Thomas has got himself out of the trenches.

Carson is with Robert, who is in evening dress.

CARSON: Mr Molesley walked in and there he was, bold as brass, taking my wallet out of my change coat. Mr Molesley would have no reason to make it up, m'lord. He doesn't know Thomas. Why would he lie?
*

ROBERT: So Thomas has been caught red-handed. Well, we knew he was a thief, didn't we?

CARSON: And now we have unimpeachable proof. I'm afraid he has to go.

ROBERT: I hate this sort of thing. With Lady Grantham's condition and everything. Can we at least leave it until after the garden party?

CARSON: Very well, your lordship. But then, I think we must act.

Mrs Patmore, in dark glasses, is surrounded by the others.

MRS HUGHES: How long will you wear them?

MRS PATMORE: A week or so. But I can see much better already, even with them on.

MRS HUGHES: Thank heaven. Now we need to talk about the garden party. Mrs Bird and I have made some lists and—

MRS PATMORE:
Mrs Bird?
I think we can manage without any help from Mrs Bird.

MRS BIRD: Can you? Well, if you want your garden party to be run by Blind Pugh, that's your business.

MRS HUGHES: Mrs Patmore, there's a lot to be done and you're only just up on your feet. We really cannot manage without Mrs Bird.

MRS PATMORE: If you say so.

MRS HUGHES: Now, I've been checking the stores and I think I've ordered what you'll need for the baking.

MRS BIRD: That's very kind, Mrs Hughes. But I believe we should check the stores. When it's convenient.

What? This is music to Mrs Patmore's ear.

MRS HUGHES: Mrs Bird, at Downton Abbey, the housekeeper manages the store cupboard, but …

MRS BIRD: I've never not run my own store cupboard in my life. Separate the cook from the store cupboard? Where's the sense in that?

MRS PATMORE: How long have I been saying this, oh Lord?

MRS BIRD: We're the ones who cook it. We should be the ones to order it.

MRS PATMORE: Mrs Bird, I shall be very glad of your help with the garden party. I'm sure we can manage it easily between the two of us.

Carson takes the telephone earpiece reverently, and speaks.

CARSON: Hello. This is Downton Abbey. Carson, the butler, speaking.

He reviews his own performance and tries again.

CARSON (CONT'D): Hello. This is Mr Carson, the butler of Downton Abbey. To whom am I speaking?

To his amazement there is someone at the other end.

CARSON: What? I am not shouting! Who are you? Oh. Mrs Gaunt. No, I don't want to place a call … I was practising my answer … Well, I dare say a lot of the things you do sound stupid to other people!

He slams it back down. The telephone is not a friend.

Violet is with Cora, who lies on the daybed in a tea gown.

VIOLET: I've written to your mother. She's very anxious, naturally. She suggested coming over—

CORA: Oh, God.

VIOLET: Well, that's what I thought. So I've put her off for now and told her to come and admire the baby.

There is a knock and O'Brien enters, carrying some clothes.

O'BRIEN: I'll just go and run your ladyship's bath.

CORA: Thank you, O'Brien.

VIOLET: Now. Have you had any answers about the position?

CORA: Quite a few.

O'Brien hears this as she shuts the bathroom door, fuming.

VIOLET: I shouldn't be making you do this in your condition.

CORA: Don't be silly. It gives me something else to think about.

VIOLET: So what do they sound like?

Behind them the door opens softly. O'Brien stands there.

CORA: There's one I think has real possibilities. She learned to do hair in Paris, while she was working for the Ambassadress.

O'Brien's face is a mask of cold hatred.

Robert is writing when the door opens.

ROBERT: Carson, I've been meaning …

It is not Carson. It is Anna.

ANNA: Your lordship.

She stands before him.

ROBERT: Oh, Anna, you're back safely, then?

ANNA: Yes, thank you, m'lord. And Mrs Patmore's fighting fit again.

ROBERT: Fighting fit's the phrase.

Which doesn't explain what Anna's doing here.

ROBERT (CONT'D): Is something the matter?

ANNA: I wanted to see your lordship because …

ROBERT: Please.

ANNA: I learned something about Mr Bates.

ROBERT: Not bad, I hope.

ANNA: No. Not bad at all. I'd have told Mr Carson but I thought you might like to hear it from me first.

ROBERT: Go on.

ANNA: You see, I went to call on Mr Bates's mother …

Cora is lying in the bath. O'Brien is arranging a towel.

CORA: O'Brien, how long do you think it takes a lady's maid to settle in?

O'BRIEN: Depends on the maid, m'lady.

CORA: Of course it does. Thank you. Oh.

She has dropped a bar of soap. O'Brien stoops to pick it up and sees it has broken in two. Almost instinctively, she only picks up one half and leaves the other on the floor. As she stands, she nudges the wet soap so that it is no longer under the bath. She hands the broken soap back.

O'BRIEN: The other half's under the bath.

CORA: Never mind. Thank you.

O'BRIEN: I'll just go and sort out your clothes, m'lady.

CORA: Thank you.

She goes, leaving the door ajar behind her.

O'Brien is laying out a dress when she stops. She stares at her own face in the looking glass for a moment.

O'BRIEN: Sarah O'Brien, this is not who you are.

She makes a decision, and turns resolutely, striding back towards the bathroom door. She's clearly changed her mind.

O'BRIEN: M'lady, if you could just wait—

But there's a splash and a scream and a crash and the sound of dripping water. O'Brien repented of her sin too late.
*

Robert is alone, looking out of the window. Bates comes in.

BATES: The doctor's gone, your lordship. But he's coming back after dinner. Lady Mary's with her now.

ROBERT: Thank you.

BATES: I don't suppose you'll want to change. But is there anything else I can do to be useful?

At last, Robert turns towards him. His eyes are red.

ROBERT: It was a boy.

But his voice breaks and his eyes fill again. He wipes them dry with a handkerchief. Neither man moves.

ROBERT (CONT'D): I'm sorry. I don't mean to embarrass you.

BATES: I'm not embarrassed. I just wish you could have been spared this.

ROBERT: I know you do. Thank you.

Clearly there's nothing for Bates to do. He starts to go.
*

ROBERT (CONT'D): By the way, Anna's told me what she learned in London.

BATES: Has she? She's not told me.

ROBERT: Oh! Well, the good news is you won't be leaving Downton. And I need some good news today.

The household sits about in shock. Branson is there.

MRS HUGHES: That poor wee babe.

ANNA: How's her ladyship doing?

MRS HUGHES: I'll take her up a tray in a minute, but I dare say she won't touch a bite.

WILLIAM: What about you, Miss O'Brien?

O'BRIEN: What about me?

WILLIAM: That must have been quite a shock.

O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes, it was.

She is very subdued.

CARSON: I think you'd better dine with us, Mr Branson. We can't know if you might be needed later.

BRANSON: I'm to go for the doctor at ten.

THOMAS (V.O.): What a long-faced lot!

Thomas is back among them.

CARSON: Kindly show some respect.

THOMAS: Come on, Mr Carson. She'll get over it. They're no bigger than a hamster at that stage.

BATES: Will you shut up?

MRS HUGHES: I quite agree. What's the matter with you, Thomas?

THOMAS: I don't know. I suppose all this makes me feel … claustrophobic.

He helps himself to a biscuit on the table.

THOMAS (CONT'D): I mean I'm sorry, ‘course I am, but why must we live through them? They're just our employers. They're not our flesh and blood.

DAISY: Thomas, don't be so unkind.

WILLIAM: Is there nothing left on earth that you respect?

THOMAS: Hark at him. Blimey, if he carries on like this for the unborn baby of a woman who scarcely knows his name, no wonder he fell to pieces when his old mum snuffed it.

With a roar, William leaps out of his chair, seizes Thomas by the lapels and starts to punch the daylights out of him.

CARSON: William! Thomas! William! Stop that! That is enough!

But Thomas is badly beaten by the time William is pulled off by Branson, Carson and Bates. Thomas storms out as the others subside. By the door, Mrs Hughes whispers to Carson.

MRS HUGHES: And if you punish him for that, I'll punish
you
.

Carson doesn't put up any resistance.

An open-sided marquee shelters some of the colourful crowd, while others stroll around the lawns in groups. Carson supervises as William, Thomas, both looking rather bruised, and all the maids, serve at tables in the tent or walk among the guests with tea, sandwiches and cakes. Molesley is helping, too. Trays of used crockery are taken out and given to waiting kitchen maids at the side of the house, who in turn give over newly washed china and glass as well as fresh supplies of food. A string quartet plays. Thomas arrives at Doctor Clarkson's side, carrying a plate.

CLARKSON: Thank you. Oh, Thomas. I've done as I promised.

He takes an envelope from his pocket and hands it over.

CLARKSON (CONT'D): General Burton is commanding the Division at Richmond and I think I have a place for you there, under Colonel Cartwright. These are the papers. When you're ready, report to the local recruiting office and they'll take it from there. As a matter of fact, I'm being drafted back in as a Captain, so I'll try to keep an eye on you.

THOMAS: That's very kind of you, Doctor.

CLARKSON: With any luck, there may be some advantage in your having volunteered so early.
*

THOMAS: Yes. That's what I thought.

Which doesn't sound quite right. William meets Daisy who has a tray of cakes. They're foxed. How can they exchange the two trays?

WILLIAM: Hang on a minute.

He transfers his own tray to one arm.

WILLIAM: Now give me yours and take this one at the same time.

It looks as if both will fall. With a squeal, Daisy rescues things and at last both hold the desired tray. They laugh.