Downton Abbey Script

437 Pages·2012·1.25 MB·English

Downton Abbey Script

Season Two

By Julian Fellowes

Episode 2x01

[00:00:00, A gunshot rings out. We close in on two soldiers lying in a battlefield covered in dirt.

One is severely wounded, the other turns his head, revealing Matthew Crawley.]

The Somme, 1916

[Matthew sees to his wounded comrade. Cut to soldiers running through the field, some

carrying the wounded on stretchers, bombs exploding around them. Matthew carries the

wounded soldier to relative safety in the trenches.]

MATTHEW CRAWLEY

Sergeant Stevens!

SGT STEVENS

Sir!

MATTHEW CRAWLEY

I want every wounded man taken down the line before it starts to get dark. We've bloody well

lost enough of them for one day.

[Matthew enters his bunker where he opens a message. His man servant carries in a pitcher

and cloth.]

MATTHEW CRAWLEY

When did this arrive?

DAVIS

[?] sir.

[The bunker continually shakes and pours dirt from the ceiling.]

MATTHEW CRAWLEY

Ah, good news. We'll be relieved today by the [Devons?]. The men can finally get some rest,

and I've got a few days' leave coming to me.

DAVIS

What'll you do with them, sir?

MATTHEW CRAWLEY

London first to remind myself what real food tastes like. Then north for a couple of days, I

suppose. Naturally there's a girl I want to see when I'm there.

DAVIS

So I should hope, sir. Strange, i'n't it? Think of our old lives just going on as before while we're

here in this.

MATTHEW CRAWLEY

More than strange. When I think of my life at Downton, it seems like another world.

[OPENING TITLES]

--

[00:02:05, INT. DOWNTON ABBEY - MORNING]

[A servant opens the windows in the library. Other servants bustle about the rooms preparing

for a benefit. Anna leads the new house maid through the rooms.]

ANNA

We normally have everything done before the family wakes up, but it's all at six and sevens

today. I'll go through it tomorrow when we're back to normal.

ETHEL

I do know how to run a house.

[Mr Carson gestures for some workers to move a piece of furniture.]

MR CARSON

Come along.

--

[00:02:26, INT. LORD GRANTHAM'S DRESSING ROOM - MORNING]

[William helps Lord Grantham dress in his old uniform. William starts to buckle the shoulder

belt.]

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

It goes under the epaulette.

[William undoes the shoulder belt and restrings it through the epaulette.]

WILLIAM

I'm sorry, my lord. If I'd known, I'd have asked Mr Bates about it before he left for London.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Because I'll be in uniform a lot of the time in future.

WILLIAM

Does being Lord Lieutenant mean you're back in the army?

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Not exactly. The Lord Lieut is responsible for the army in the county while the war is on. But no,

I'm not back in the army. It appears they don't want me.

--

[00:02:59, INT. OUTER HALL - DAY]

[Mr Carson continues to supervise while Robert comes down with the dog.]

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Morning. I don't suppose there's any news of Bates?

MR CARSON

We expect him back any day, my lord. He wrote to Anna that they had the funeral last Monday.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

William's a good chap, but he's not Bates when it comes to uniforms. I may not be a real

soldier, but I think I ought to look like one.

MR CARSON

Quite, my lord.

--

[00:03:21, INT. DINING ROOM - MORNING]

[Robert joins Lady Grantham and Sybil for breakfast.]

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

We don't often see you in here for breakfast.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Isobel said she was coming up to help and your mother threatened to look in. No doubt they

would love it if they found me still in bed.

[Sybil and Robert open their post.]

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

I don't believe it.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Please say it's something nice.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

General Robertson's invited me to be Colonel of the North Riding Volunteers. Well, this is the

best bit. It may please you to know that the idea was given to me by General Hague. Well, if

Hague's involved, it means I'm back in the army properly.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

How can that be? You were told you weren't wanted for active service. You can't jump in the

army like a jack-in-the-box.

[Sybil is obviously very upset by her post.]

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

I don't see why not. Churchill went back to the front after the Gilly business. If he can do it, why

shouldn't I? Sybil, are you all right?

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Sybil, darling.

LADY SYBIL

Will you excuse me? I think I'll just...

[Sybil takes her post and leaves. Mr Carson opens the door for her.]

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

She's had more bad news.

--

[00:04:15, EXT. STREET - MORNING]

[Branson is teaching Lady Edith how to drive.]

LADY EDITH

I do think I'm getting better, don't you?

BRANSON

Up to a point, my lady. If you could just get the clutch right down to the floor.

LADY EDITH

But I am.

BRANSON

Not quite, my lady.

LADY EDITH

It doesn't seem to want to go.

BRANSON

I think it wants to if you ask it properly. That's better. You'll be putting me out of a job.

LADY EDITH

Won't the call up put you all out of your jobs?

BRANSON

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

--

[00:04:40, INT. KITCHENS - MORNING]

WILLIAM

What are you giving them to eat?

MRS PATMORE

Not much. They know the money's for the hospital, so they can't expect Belshazzar's feast.

DAISY

I'll make some cheese straws. What's the matter with you?

WILLIAM

Nothing much. My dad still won't let me enlist.

MRS PATMORE

Your father has no one but you, of course he doesn't want you to enlist. Who can argue with

him?

WILLIAM

So I stand by while the lads on the farms and in the gardens go to war? Even Thomas is on the

front in the medical corps.

MRS PATMORE

Ha! That'll come as a nasty shock.

WILLIAM

Oh, you can make fun of him, Mrs Patmore, but he's fighting for his king and country and I'm

not.

MRS PATMORE

Well, I daresay you won't have long to wait.

WILLIAM

Well, I hope you're right.

MRS PATMORE

Do you? Because I don't. I hope very much that I am wrong.

--

[00:05:23, INT. LARGE PARLOUR - MORNING]

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

It's kind of you to let us have it here. They'll enjoy it so much more.

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

And you can charge so much more for the tickets.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Good morning, Mama. This is very early for you to be up and about.

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

War makes early risers of us all. I thought I would help with the flowers.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Basset has plenty, but...thank you.

[Cora exits.]

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

You don't mind my taking over the flowers, do you? Cora's flower always look more suited to a

first communion in southern Italy. Well, what else have you planned for tonight's raffles?

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Anything we can think of that will raise money.

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Hot buttered toast with a countess, a tuppence a slice?

--

[00:06:08, INT. LIBRARY - MORNING]

[Ethel fluffs a pillow by tossing it in the air.]

ANNA

You drop the cushions on the floor to plump them up.

ETHEL

I know.

MRS HUGHES

Ethel, are you settling in?

[Ethel drops a pillow on the floor.]

ETHEL

I would be if Anna would stop teaching me how to suck eggs. I was Head Housemaid in my

last position.

MRS HUGHES

You were Senior Housemaid out of two in a much smaller house.

ANNA

Are they to be coming here tonight?

MRS HUGHES

Only at the interval, and keep them out of the drawing room. I thought Mr Bates would've been

back by now, or he could've stood guard.

[Mrs Hughes and Anna smile.]

ETHEL

Who is this Mr Bates?

ANNA

He's Lordship's Valet. He's been in London because his mother died.

ETHEL

Well, everyone talks about him as if he were king.

ANNA

Do they? That's nice to hear.

[Violet enters.]

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Anna.

[Anna curtsies.]

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Help me do battle with this...monstrosity.

[Violet stares at the hideous flower arrangement on the table.]

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Looks like a creature from the Lost World.

[Violet starts pulling out flowers.]

--

[00:07:03, INT. MR CARSON'S OFFICE - MORNING]

[Mr Carson is polishing the silver set.]

MRS HUGHES

You should let William do that.

MR CARSON

He's got enough on his hands getting the uniforms out of mothballs. Agh, I must remember to

put Anna on alert for dinner tonight.

MRS HUGHES

You have to ease up a bit or you'll give yourself a heart attack. There's a war on. Things cannot

be the same when there's a war on.

MR CARSON

I do not agree. Keeping up standards is the only way to show the Germans that they will not

beat us in the end.

MRS HUGHES

Well, give me some warning the next time we're expecting Germans at Downton, I'll see what I

can do.

[00:07:39, INT. LIBRARY - MORNING]

[Anna collects the flowers Violet removed and takes them away as Cora, Isobel, and Robert

enter.]

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Thank you.

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Well, we thought we'd come in here for a little talk.

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Oh. Well, I'm sure we won't be disturbed.

[Robert rolls his eyes, then motions Isobel to the couch.]

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Please.

[Isobel sits.]

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Well, the thing is...I've had a letter from Matthew. Of course he doesn't tell me what he's

actually doing.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

No, he wouldn't. But I'm glad he's all right. I miss him.

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Well, that's the point. You must know he's been down here a few times since the war started.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

We had heard.

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Downton is hardly a metropolis.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Is he still determined to go back to Manchester when it's all over?

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

He doesn't talk much about life after the war, none of them do. I suppose they don't want to

tempt fate. Until now, that is. He writes that he's engaged to be married to a Miss Lavinia Swire.

[They are rather upset by this news. Cora sits down.]

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Well, I-- I suppose we all knew it would happen one day.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Do you know her?

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Not yet. Apparently they met when he was in England last time. It all seems rather hurried.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

You can't blame them for wanting to live in the present.

[Robert turns around, trying to process this latest blow.]

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Anyway, he's been in London on leave, and now he's bringing her here to meet me. He'll be

here tonight and tomorrow, then he leaves on Thursday while she stays for a bit.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

So, will you miss the concert?

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Well, that's up to you. We'd all hoped that he and Mary would sort things out between them,

but if that's not to be, then shouldn't we try to get back to normal? Even if he's not keen to live

in the village. He's still the heir. And you're still his family.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

I quite agree. We can't know if Matthew will come through it. Either way, I would like to see him,

and I want to wish him luck.

[Isobel smiles.]

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

The trouble is Mary's back from London today as well. She gets in at five o'clock.

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Matthew's driving in Lavinia's car. They won't meet on the train.

VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Oh, that's a relief. I hate Greek drama. You know, when everything happens off stage.

[Isobel narrows her eyes at Violet.]

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

But shall we tell her not to come? We might still catch her.

ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

Isobel's right. We must use this engagement as a new beginning. You bring our Lieutenant

Crawley to the concert and stay for dinner afterwards.

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

I was hoping you'd say that.

[Isobel smiles.]

--

[00:10:00, PATH - MORNING]

[Sybil enters the house, crying with the note in her hand.]

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Oh, there you are, I'm just going home, but I'll be back at four--

[Sybil walks by without looking at her.]

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Sybil, my dear, what's the matter?

LADY SYBIL

Tom Belasis has been killed.

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

What a terrible thing.

LADY SYBIL

I remember him at Imogen's ball. He made me laugh out loud just as her uncle was giving a

speech. Sometimes it feels as if all the men I ever danced with are dead.

[Isobel gives Sybil a comforting kiss.]

LADY SYBIL

I just feel so useless. Wasting my life while they sacrifice theirs.

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

You've been a tremendous help with the concert.

LADY SYBIL

No, I d-- I don't mean selling programs or finding prizes for the Tombola, I want to do a real job.

Real work.

[O'Brien is listening in.]

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Well, if you are serious, what about an auxiliary nurse? There's a training college in York. I

know I could get you onto a course. It may be something of a rough awakening. Are you ready

for that? I mean, have you ever made your own bed, for example, or scrubbed a floor.

[Isobel sees O'Brien eaves dropping.]

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

O'Brien, what is it?

O'BRIEN

Mr Platte is taking Her Ladyship and Lady Grantham down to the village, she wondered if

you'd like to go with them.

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

That's very kind. Thank you.

[O'Brien leaves.]

LADY SYBIL

Go on. What else would I need?

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

Well, if you're serious, what about cooking? Why don't you ask Mrs Patmore if she could give

you one or two basic tips.

[Sybil nods and starts to smile.]

ISOBEL CRAWLEY

When you get to York, it might be useful to know a little more than nothing.

[Isobel smiles and strokes Sybil's chin affectionately. Sybil smiles back.]

--

[00:11:41, INT. LADY GRANTHAM'S BEDROOM - DAY]

[O'Brien helps Lady Grantham dress to go out.]

O'BRIEN

They want to use her as a maid of all work at the hospital. I suppose it's cheaper when Lady

Sybil can live here for nothing, but it doesn't seem quite right somehow to take advantage.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

No, it does not.

O'BRIEN

I hear the young men that are being brought in now are very disfigured.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

How terrible.

O'BRIEN

Limbs missing and faces blown apart. And Lady Sybil's been nurtured so very gently. And what

types would she be working with?

[Cora looks more and more concerned.]

O'BRIEN

Still, you'll know what's best to do.

CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

Yes. I certainly will.

[Lady Grantham exits with her gloves and hat.]

--

[00:12:24, INT. KITCHENS - DAY]

[Daisy shells peas, Anna polishes, William mends a shirt, Branson reads the newspaper, and

O'Brien sits down to sew.]

MRS PATMORE

Where's the butter for the pancakes?

DAISY

It's in the cold larder.

ETHEL

Are we having pancakes tonight?

O'BRIEN

No we [?] is like.

MRS PATMORE

Upstairs dinner Crepe Suzette.

ETHEL (gasp)

I've always wanted to try those. Could you save me some? If they don't finish them all.

MRS PATMORE

Er, save you some Crepe Suzette?

[Branson regards Mrs Patmore. Anna smiles at the strange request.]

ETHEL

If you don't mind.

[Ethel files her nails.]

ETHEL

What are we having?

MRS PATMORE

Lamb stew and semolina.

ETHEL

Do you eat a lot of stews?

MRS PATMORE

Don't you fancy that, dear?

ETHEL

Not all the time.

MRS PATMORE

Oh, I see. And would you like to sleep in Her Ladyship's bedroom while you're at it?

[Ethel looks up.]

ETHEL

Wouldn't mind. I hate sharing a room. I didn't in my last place.

ANNA

There were only two maids and a cook.

ETHEL

Well, I'm just saying.

MRS PATMORE

And I'll just say, if you don't look out.

[Ethel smiles in amusement as Mrs Patmore leaves.]

O'BRIEN

You've got a cheek on your first day.

ETHEL

I don't see why. I want the best and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

O'BRIEN

And you think we don't?

ETHEL

I think it's hard to change at your age. I don't blame you. But I suppose, in the end, I want to be

more than just a servant.

[BREAK 1]