Downton Abbey, Series 3 Scripts (Official) Read online

  SYBIL: Dearest Papa, tell me, did you send the money? Please say yes.

  ROBERT: What money?

  CORA: Hello… Tom. Welcome to Downton.

  BRANSON: I hope I am welcome, your ladyship.28

  MARY: Of course. Alfred, would you take the luggage from Mr Branson?

  EDITH: There’s tea in the library.

  BRANSON: Thank you.

  Cora is greeting Sybil. Branson walks towards the front door.

  BRANSON: Hello, Mr Carson.

  Carson bows stiffly at the neck.

  24 INT. DRAWING ROOM. CRAWLEY HOUSE. DAY.

  Isobel has come in to find an amazed Matthew.

  ISOBEL: Was that Mr Charkham I saw leaving?

  MATTHEW: Yes. He said to make his apologies. He was late for his train.

  ISOBEL: What did he have to say for himself?

  MATTHEW: I don’t know where to start… Basically, it seems that Reggie Swire did not wish to divide his fortune. So, when Lavinia died, he made a new will with a list of three possible heirs, of which I was the third.

  While he talks, she has sat down. This is interesting.

  ISOBEL: Why didn’t the first name succeed?

  MATTHEW: He died before Reggie. In the same epidemic that killed Lavinia.

  ISOBEL: But surely if he had children…?

  MATTHEW: Reggie didn’t make it per stirpes. That is, the right to inherit did not descend to any offspring. But at first they thought the second heir, a Mr Clive Pulbrook, would be easy to trace.29

  ISOBEL: How much money are we talking about?

  MATTHEW: A lot. A huge amount. I had no idea. You could never have told it from Reggie’s way of life.

  ISOBEL: Lucky Mr Pulbrook.

  MATTHEW: Well, this is it. Some time before Reggie’s death, Pulbrook travelled to the East, to India. To some tea plantations he owned there.

  ISOBEL: And?

  MATTHEW: He’s never been heard of since. They’ve made enquiries. They’ve sent out an agent to visit his property, but there’s no sign of him.

  ISOBEL: That’s why they’ve decided it’s time to let you know the situation.

  MATTHEW: In a nutshell. I told Charkham that no one will pray more fervently than I for Mr Pulbrook’s welfare.

  ISOBEL: That must have restored his faith in human nature.

  MATTHEW: Maybe, but if he knew the facts as we do, then his view of human nature would not be reinforced.

  Isobel doesn’t quite know what to say.30

  25 INT. SERVANTS’ HALL. DOWNTON. DAY.

  Thomas is rubbing collars clean. Mrs Hughes and Carson watch.

  THOMAS: I’m sorry. I won’t, and that’s flat.

  MRS HUGHES: Then you’ll have to do it, Mr Carson.

  CARSON: I am not dressing a chauffeur.

  MRS HUGHES: He is not a chauffeur now. Anyway, you don’t have to dress him. Just see he’s got everything he needs.

  CARSON: I am not often as one with Mr Barrow. But no.

  MRS HUGHES: I’m surprised at you. We’re talking about maintaining standards here. To quote you, our opinion of the family’s antics is not relevant.

  CARSON: I repeat: no.

  MRS HUGHES: Then Alfred must do it.

  CARSON: Alfred? He wouldn’t know what to do beyond collecting dirty shoes outside the door.

  MRS HUGHES: Well, he’ll have to learn.31

  END OF ACT TWO

  ACT THREE

  26 INT. DINING ROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  The family is there, with Isobel and Matthew, waited on by Carson and Alfred. Branson is in an ordinary suit. The other men are in white tie.

  VIOLET: Is it an Irish tradition?

  BRANSON: What?

  ROBERT: She means not changing.

  SYBIL: Of course it isn’t, Granny.

  VIOLET: It might’ve been. You don’t change on the first night of a voyage.

  BRANSON: No, m’lady. I don’t own a set of tails. Or a dinner jacket, either. I wouldn’t get any use out of them.

  ROBERT: Well, I hope you own a morning coat, since you’re here for a wedding.

  BRANSON: No. I’m afraid I don’t.

  SYBIL: We live a completely different kind of life, Papa.

  ROBERT: Obviously.

  During this, with an inner struggle, Carson brings the food to Branson’s left. He holds it slightly too high.

  BRANSON: Could you lower it a bit, Mr Carson?

  Silently, Carson does so. Mary speaks into the void.

  MARY: You should buy a Downton wardrobe and leave it here. Then you won’t have to pack when you come.

  EDITH: What a good idea.

  BRANSON: I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t turn into somebody else just to please you.

  VIOLET: More’s the pity.

  ISOBEL: Oh, no. Why should you change to please us?32

  She smiles at Violet. Mary catches Matthew’s eye.

  MATTHEW: What is the general feeling in Ireland, now?

  BRANSON: That we’re in sight of throwing off the English yoke.

  ISOBEL: Do you approve of the new Act?

  BRANSON: Would you approve of your country being divided by a foreign power?

  ISOBEL: Well, won’t it bring home rule for southern Ireland nearer?

  BRANSON: Home rule on English terms. Presided over by an English king.

  MATTHEW: Is keeping the monarchy a problem?

  BRANSON: Would it be a problem for you to be ruled by the German Kaiser?

  At the sideboard, a furious Carson snaps the stem of a glass.33

  ROBERT: Carson? Are you all right?

  CARSON: I have been very clumsy, m’lord. I do apologise.

  ROBERT: Please don’t. I’ve every sympathy.

  This time Cora tries to rescue matters.

  CORA: Is it true the Irish gardens have more variety than ours?

  EDITH: Oh, yes. Don’t you remember Lady Dufferin’s ball at Clandeboye? The gardens there were heavenly.34

  27 INT. SERVANTS’ HALL. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  The servants are finishing dinner.

  ALFRED: I thought them very down on him.

  THOMAS: That is because you know nothing.

  CARSON: And wasn’t he down on them? Insulting our country, insulting the King… I thought it was a miracle his lordship held his temper.

  MRS HUGHES: But it must be hard, Mr Carson. To sit up there, with people he used to drive around —

  She stops. Branson is standing in the doorway.

  BRANSON: It is hard, Mrs Hughes.

  Carson has stood and so the others have to.

  BRANSON: Please, sit down.

  CARSON: Is there something we can do, sir?

  BRANSON: I just wanted to come down to say hello. I wouldn’t want you to think I’d got too big for my boots.

  MRS HUGHES: That’s nice.

  ANNA: I hope you and Lady Sybil are well.

  BRANSON: We are, thank you. And we’ve been following the story of Mr Bates. Mary keeps us informed… Still, I mustn’t interrupt your dinner.

  MRS HUGHES: Thank you for coming down.

  He nods and goes. They sit.

  O’BRIEN: He’s settled into his new life.

  CARSON: ‘Mary keeps us informed.’

  MRS HUGHES: Well, he knows her now.

  CARSON: What’s that got to do with it? His lordship would never call her ‘Mary’ when talking to me. Never. If he wants to play their game he’d better learn their rules.35

  28 INT. DRAWING ROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Violet, Sybil, Cora and Isobel are playing bridge. The others sit about.

  VIOLET: Is he coming back?

  SYBIL: I don’t think so. He’s going to bed once he’s said his hellos.

  VIOLET: Tomorrow, let’s ask the servants to come up and dine with us. It’ll make things easier.

  MARY: You must get him to stop calling Granny ‘m’lady’. And Mama.

  ISOBEL: We need something that doesn’t sound too stiff and grand.


  ROBERT: ‘Lady Grantham’, of course. And he can call me ‘Lord Grantham’.

  SYBIL: That doesn’t sound stiff or grand at all.

  Robert glares at her. Mary’s passing the table. She whispers.

  MARY: One step at a time.36

  She drifts over to Matthew. They talk intimately.

  MARY (CONT’D): So what did the lawyer want? I presume he turned up.

  MATTHEW: He did. And it’s rather complicated. But you were right that it was about Reggie’s will.

  MARY: So he’s left you something.

  MATTHEW: Well, no he hasn’t. Yet. And he probably never will.

  MARY: But he’s dead…?

  MATTHEW: Never mind that now. Just sit down and tell me about the relations who are coming to the wedding. I want to unscramble them in my head.

  29 INT. SYBIL’S BEDROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  There is a knock and a ‘come in’ and Alfred enters.

  ALFRED: Oh. You’re in bed, sir.

  BRANSON: I am.

  ALFRED: I was coming to help you. Have you hung everything up, sir?

  BRANSON: I have. And please don’t pretend you don’t know my story.

  ALFRED: It doesn’t matter to me. I used to work in a hotel and you didn’t get a character reference with every guest there, I can tell you.

  Branson laughs. It is the first time he has done so.

  BRANSON: Are you enjoying life at Downton?

  ALFRED: I’ve only just arrived.

  BRANSON: It’s not a bad place to work. And Lord Grantham’s not a bad man, whatever you feel about the system. But remember, you weren’t born to be a servant. Nobody is.37

  30 INT. KITCHENS. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Daisy is putting the pots away. Mrs Patmore looks in.

  MRS PATMORE: Go to bed when you’re done.

  DAISY: I’ll go to bed when I’m ready.

  MRS PATMORE: What’s happened to you? Have you swapped places with your evil twin?

  DAISY: I’d like to know where the new kitchen maid is. That’s what you promised. They’ve got a new footman. Where’s the kitchen maid?

  MRS PATMORE: I know, and I’m sorry. But I spoke to Mr Carson tonight, and they won’t be taking anyone new on.

  DAISY: Except a footman.

  MRS PATMORE: I don’t know how Mr Carson managed it because his lordship’s put his foot down. But you’re called my assistant now, and you’ve seven shillings extra every month.

  DAISY: You’ve still kept me here with a dishonest representation.

  MRS PATMORE: Oh, dear. Have you swallowed a dictionary?38

  31 INT. DRAWING ROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Only Mary, Matthew and Sybil are left. The others have gone.

  SYBIL: The money came with a note saying it was for the tickets and it was postmarked Downton. I so hoped it was Papa wanting us here.

  MATTHEW: I’m afraid not. But it sounds like the sort of thing Mother would do. The writing wasn’t familiar?

  SYBIL: No. Tom was furious because he couldn’t give it back. It’s bad enough for him that we’re living off Papa. He won’t spend a penny on himself. That’s why he doesn’t have any clothes.

  Matthew has gone to the drinks tray and poured some whisky.

  MATTHEW: We’ve run out of water.

  MARY: Ring the bell.

  MATTHEW: No, it’s late. I’ll get it.

  He walks out carrying a glass jug, leaving them alone.

  SYBIL: Somehow none of it seems to matter when we’re in Dublin. Class and all that just fades away. I’m Mrs Branson and we get on with our lives like millions of others. But here he feels so patronised, and he hates it.

  MARY: But why are you so broke? He works, doesn’t he?

  SYBIL: He works like a Trojan, but the rebel newspapers pay nothing and nursing’s finished for me until after the baby, so we really do count every penny.

  MARY: But you don’t regret it?

  SYBIL: No. Never. Not at all. He’s a wonderful, wonderful man. I just wish you knew him.

  She starts to cry and Mary puts her arms round her sister.

  MARY: Darling, we will know him. We’ll know him and value him, I promise.

  SYBIL: He puts a tough face on it and says things that make everyone angry, but he so wants your good opinion. I can’t tell you how much.

  She wipes her eyes with a half-smile.

  SYBIL (CONT’D): Anyway. I’d best go upstairs and make sure he’s not too suicidal. Goodnight.

  MARY: Oh, by the way, I don’t know if Mama’s told you, but the whole Grey family’s coming tomorrow night.

  SYBIL: Including Larry? Crikey.

  MARY: You’d better warn Tom… Oh, and Sybil, if I were you, I wouldn’t tell Papa about being Mrs Branson.39

  32 INT. BEDROOM PASSAGE. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Sybil walks along to her room as Robert comes out of a door in his dressing gown. She smiles at him.

  SYBIL: It’s so nice to be home again.

  He kisses her as she opens the door.

  ROBERT: And it’s so nice to see my baby. Goodnight.

  BRANSON: Goodnight.

  He is standing by the open door, also in his dressing gown. Robert bristles. Sybil sees his pain and strokes his cheek.

  SYBIL: Goodnight, darling Papa.

  33 INT. CORA’S BEDROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Cora is reading in bed and Robert is in his dressing gown.

  CORA: I didn’t ask for the marriage either, but it’s happened now.

  ROBERT: If he had just a scrap of humility —

  CORA: What do you want him to do? Genuflect and call you Master?40

  ROBERT: I want this wedding to be perfect, that’s all. A Downton moment. For us to remember as long as we live.

  CORA: It will be. And we’ll have Edith’s, too, and lots of christenings. So we have plenty of Downton moments to come… What is it?

  ROBERT: I wasn’t going to tell you. Not until after the wedding…

  CORA: You’re scaring me.

  34 INT. SYBIL’S BEDROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Sybil is getting into bed with Branson.

  BRANSON: But who are the Greys? Why does it matter that they’re coming?

  SYBIL: The father, Lord Merton, is Mary’s godfather, but Larry Grey used to be keen on me. When we were young.

  BRANSON: And were you keen on him?

  SYBIL: No. I don’t think so. I can hardly remember, to be honest.

  BRANSON: So what are you saying?

  SYBIL: Nothing, particularly… But we could run into Ripon and find some tails. We have the money.

  BRANSON: I won’t spend more of that money.

  SYBIL: All right. But please don’t talk about Ireland all the time.

  He tries to read her. Is she being deliberately opaque?

  SYBIL (CONT’D): I just want to make things easier for you.

  BRANSON: For me or for you? Don’t disappoint me, Sybil. Not now that we’re here.41

  But she pulls him into her arms and kisses him.

  35 INT. DRAWING ROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Matthew has come back.

  MARY: Shall I order the car?

  MATTHEW: I don’t think I can refuse a lift with Mother, and then make the poor man go out again. I’ll walk.

  MARY: It might rain.

  MATTHEW: Then I’ll get wet. Come and kiss me.

  He sits, holding out his hand. But Mary has been thinking.

  MARY: So, if they can’t find Mr Pillbox, what will you do with the money?

  MATTHEW: Pulbrook. And they will find him.42

  MARY: But if they don’t?

  MATTHEW: Then I’ll decide what to do. Or we will. Because I can’t keep it.

  MARY: No. Of course not.

  36 INT. CORA’S BEDROOM. DOWNTON. NIGHT.

  Cora can hardly believe what she has been hearing.

  CORA: Why were you so heavily invested in one enterprise? Wasn’t it foolish?

  Robert sits and buries his face in his hands for a moment. />
  ROBERT: Everyone said there was no risk. Everyone. That the more money we put in, the more we’d make. They said the shares were an absolute bargain, and the war was going to bring a massive bonanza.

  CORA: Well, obviously there was a risk and they weren’t a bargain… Has some of my fortune been lost?

  ROBERT: Some? All. Or almost all.

  CORA: So it’s very bad?

  Robert would speak, but when he tries he starts to cry. Cora stands and comes over, putting her arms round him.

  CORA: Oh, my dear. How terrible for you.

  ROBERT: It’s not so good for you.

  CORA: Don’t worry about me. I’m an American. Have gun, will travel.43

  He is very moved by this. He takes her hand and kisses it.

  ROBERT: Oh, thank God for you, anyway.

  CORA: And you know what? I’m glad we have a wedding to celebrate. Let’s make sure it’s a great day. If it’s to be our last, let’s make it a wonderful ‘last’, and enjoy our lovely home and the lovely people we’ve spent our life among.

  He takes her in his arms.44

  37 EXT. DOWNTON VILLAGE. DAY.

  Branson is walking towards the pub when Matthew hails him.

  MATTHEW: Bit early for drowning your sorrows.

  BRANSON: I thought it might be better if I moved down to the pub.

  MATTHEW: You’re not serious.

  BRANSON: I can’t go through too many more dinners like last night.

  MATTHEW: You don’t make it easy for them. Do you really think you can recruit Cousin Robert for Sinn Fein?

  BRANSON: I don’t know what gets into me… I can see them staring, and I know they don’t want me here…

  MATTHEW: Well, don’t include me. Or Mary.

  BRANSON: She wasn’t too keen on the idea of a chauffeur for a brother-in-law.

  MATTHEW: Forget that. She’s a pragmatist.

  BRANSON: She could be a tough fighter, too.

  MATTHEW: Well, let’s hope she’s not tested. Now forget this and walk back. We’re brothers-in-law with high-minded wives. We’d better stick together.

  38 INT. VISITING CELL. YORK PRISON. DAY.

  Bates is with Anna. He hands her a sheaf of papers.

  BATES: It’s all there. Friends — though there weren’t too many — tradesmen, acquaintances… but I can’t see what you’ll get out of them.

  ANNA: I do not believe when Vera decided to kill herself she never mentioned it to another living soul.