"A letter for you, William." "Why on earth are you doing that?" "Well, someone's got to." "Yes, indeed they do, and that someone is William or one of the maids." "You're making work for yourself, Mr Carson, and I've no sympathy with that." "I'm not asking for sympathy." " I don't think it... it should be here." " What?" "Oh, for heaven's sake, man, if something's wrong, put it right." "I'm sorry, Lang, I don't mean to snap." "Nothing to worry about, milord." "You've been in the trenches." "I have not." "I have no right to criticize." "I'm not a soldier now." "You've been invalided out." "That is perfectly honourable." "Is it?" "I know people look at me and wonder why Im not in uniform..." "Then you refer them to me, and I'll give them a piece of my mind." "Hmm?" "A penny for your thoughts." "They're worth a great deal more than that, thank you very much." "What is it?" "My papers." "They've come." "I've been called up." " Oh, you never have." " What does it mean?" "I'm to report for my medical next Wednesday, and once I'm through that, I go to Richmond for training." " And then you go to war?" " With any luck." "I'll be beggared if it's over before I get there." "Well, if they'd listen to me, it'd be over by tea time." "Daisy, I wonder, would you give me a picture to take with me?" " I haven't got one." " Then have one taken." "On your afternoon off." "Please." "That's enough." "Let her get on with her work." "How is Thomas coming along?" "I wish he could be treated at our hospital, here." " Well, it's only for officers." " Of course." "Although, ideally, he'd love to be transferred there to work." "He won't be sent back to the front?" "Not with his hand the way it is." "It is such a pity he isn't under Dr Clarkson." "We might have been able to influence him a bit." "I should hope so." "Why, without this family and all the money you've spent, his precious hospital wouldn't exist at all." "Perhaps I'll ask his advice." "You never know." "I was sure you'd have a good idea of what to do for the best." "Fancy a tour in England, Davis?" "I assume you're having me on, sir." "Not at all." "General Sir Herbert Strutt has asked for my transfer to be his ADC." "He's touring England to boost recruitment and he's remembered that I know Manchester and Yorkshire pretty well." "It'll mean a couple of months at home and a promotion to Captain." "I can't object to that." "I've only got a few days before the medical, milady." "Then go and tell your father." "You don't mind, do you, Carson?" "We must manage with no footman at all from next Wednesday." "It'll be no different if we start now." "And you've always got Lang." "We wish you every good fortune." "Don't we, darling?" "We certainly do." "Good luck, William." "Thank you, milord." "So, both my footmen have gone to the war, while I cut ribbons and make speeches." "And keep people's spirits up, which is very important." "By God, I envy them, though." "I envy their self-respect and I envy their ability to sleep at night." "Mr Carson doesn't like the smell of cleaning materials in the servants' hall." "Not just before luncheon." "Go on, Miss O'Brien." "We don't want to be unfriendly, do we?" "You obviously don't." "Never mind." "Finish it now you've started, but don't blame me if Mr Carson takes a bite out of you." "Hello, Mr Lang." "Everything all right?" "Why do you say that?" "No reason." "I only meant I hope you're enjoying yourself." "I know I would be, in your shoes." "You never tried for the job, did you?" "I never got the chance." "I'd no sooner heard that Mr Bates was gone than he arrived." "What brings you here, Mr Molesley?" "I was wondering if Anna was anywhere around." " I could find her if you like." " No, no." "Just give her this." "We were talking about it the other day and I came across a copy in Ripon." ""Elizabeth and Her German Garden" Whatever's that about?" "It's about an invitation to talk some more, that's what." "Goodbye, Dr Clarkson." "Lady Grantham." "I'd love to help, but it's not within my power to hook men from hither and thither as I please." "That's not at all what I was asking." "Forgive me, but I thought you were saying that you wanted Corporal Barrow to come and work here when he's fully recovered." "I think it a credit to him that he wants to continue to serve in this way, after he's been wounded." "Well, that's as maybe, but it's not for me to decide what happens next." "Mr Carson, are you quite well?" "Oh, leave me alone." "But after 24 hours..." "Oh, are you all right, Carson?" "Of course." "That is, perfectly all right, Your Ladyship, thank you." "No." "Cousin Isobel says Matthew's coming home in a fortnight." "He's touring England with some General." "Well, we'll have a dinner when he's here." "I was going to ask Richard Carlisle about then." "For Saturday to Monday." "You be careful, Mary." "Sir Richard mustn't think you're after him." " Isn't that the truth?" " The truth is neither here nor there." "It's the look of the thing that matters." "Ask Rosamund." "It'll take the edge off it." "That'd be nice." "Like before the war." "How can we manage a great pre-war house party without a single footman?" "My dear, Rosamund is not a house party." "She's blood." "I saw Mrs Drake when I went into the village." "The wife of John Drake, who has Longfield Farm." "Oh?" "What did she have to say?" "Apparently, their final able-bodied farmhand has been called up." "They need a man to drive the tractor." "Well, hasn't Drake recovered from his illness?" "I thought he was better." "No, he is." "He's much, much better." "But he doesn't drive." "So, I told her I could do it." " What?" " I said I could drive the tractor." "Edith, you are a lady, not Toad of Toad Hall." "Well, I'm doing it." "Don't look so bewildered." "It's simple." "I will drive the tractor." "But can you do that?" "Absolutely." "Can you hitch up the plough or whatever it is I'm dragging?" "Of course." "When would you like me to start?" "Well, I'd better get you something to wear, then." "Oh, I like a bit of life in the house, but I just hope Mr Carson doesn't spontaneously combust." "I had a letter yesterday." " Yes?" " It's my sister's boy." "He's with the Lancashire Fusiliers." "Only he's gone missing." ""Missing, presumed dead," they call it." "Oh, no." "How did it happen?" "That's just it." "They can't find out." "How it happened, why it happened, whether we can be sure it did happen or he isn't lying prisoner somewhere." "Why not ask His Lordship?" "He'll have friends in the War Office, they can dig something up." "Oh, I don't like to bother him." "Why not?" "He's got broad shoulders." "Mmm." "That's ever so fine, Mr Lang." "However can you make those big hands do such delicate work?" "I expect there's no end to the things they could manage." "Giving you a slap for a start." "That is good." "Very good." "I like to see a proper skill." "These days, blokes think they can be a valet if they can smile and tie a shoelace." "But there's an art to it, and I can tell you've got it." "My mother taught me." "She was a lady's maid, like you." "Well, she knew what she was about." "Oh, Mr Lang, as you know, Sir Richard Carlisle arrives later and the Crawleys are coming for dinner tonight." "I really can't have maids in the dining room for such a party, so I'd be grateful if you'd help me and play the footman." "Me?" "Wait at table?" "Well, it's not ideal, but I'm afraid I've no choice." "The footmen's liveries are in a cupboard just past Mrs Hughes' sitting room." "You should find one to fit you." "I'm not sure what I can do, but I'm happy to try." " What's his name?" " Archie." "That is Archibald Philpotts." "He was in the Lancashire Fusiliers." "They think he was in Northern France." "You realise the most likely outcome is that he has indeed been killed?" "I understand, milord." "But we'd rather know the worst than wonder." "Mmm." " Oh." " Oh, hello, Mr Molesley." "What are you doing here?" "I asked inside, and they said you were over at the laundry." "Lady Mary wants to wear this tonight." "I wasn't sure it was done." "I was really wondering if you'd had a chance to read that book." " You only gave it to me yesterday." " Of course, of course." "But when you have read it, I hope we can exchange our views." "That'd be nice." "Perhaps we might bring some of the others in." "We could have a sort of reading club." "We could do that." "Or we could talk about it together, just we two." "Heavens." "It's later than I thought." "I must get on." "I'm off to change, but I wanted you to know" "I sent a note down to Clarkson which should do the trick." " What did you say?" " Only that I gathered you'd asked a favour and given that the estate shoulders the hospital costs, it did seem a little unfair if we weren't allowed a few perks." "Quite right." "Thank you, darling." "Well done, milady." "Ready?" "Ready!" "Come on, damn you!" "Yes!" "To the victor, the spoils." "Did you plant that tree?" "Steady on." "It must be 40 years old." "It's not a flattering light." "My father planted it." "But you have to be tough with fruit trees and not let them outstay their welcome." "Farming needs a kind of toughness, doesn't it?" "There's room for sentiment, but not sentimentality." "Beautifully put, if I may say so, milady." " You should be a writer." " Thank you." "How are you getting on?" "Very well, I think." " And it's not too hard for you?" " Not at all." "She's stronger than she looks." "I've brought you something to eat, milady, though I'm afraid it's not what you're used to." "Hey, it's not for you." "So, it is you." "Ethel thought I must have a soldier fancy man." " Is she the new maid?" " Yes." "She's a soppy sort." "So, tell me, was Dr Clarkson thrilled to have your services?" "Oh, it's Major Clarkson now, but yes." "I don't know how you did it." "What about your blighty?" " My God." " It's not so bad." "And it lived up to its name, and got me home." "You'd better come inside." "Where's William?" "Training for the army." "I thought he might have died for love of you." "Don't be nasty." "Not as soon as you're back." "Imagine Carson without a footman." "Like a ringmaster without a pony..." "We'll have none of your cheek, thank you, Thomas." "I'm very sorry, Mrs Hughes, but I'm not a servant any more." "I take my orders from Major Clarkson." "Who's this?" "Ethel." "The new maid." "I told you." "When I saw you out there, I didn't realise I was dealing with an ex-footman." "I'm the one that got away." "Gives hope to us all." "Ethel, get ready to help with the luggage." "They're nearly back with Sir Richard." " We've got a visitor, Mr Carson." " I've seen him." "Where's Mr Bates?" "Gone." "Replaced by Mr Lang." "So not all the changes were bad." "Hello." "We're so pleased to have you here, Sir Richard." " Lady Grantham." " Welcome." "Thank you." "I hope the train wasn't too tiring." "Hello, Mary." "Not a bit, no." "I got a lot done." " Hello, Aunt Rosamund." " Brother dear." "How are you?" "Lovely to see you, Rosamund." "He's nice, isn't he?" "To be honest, he spent the entire journey reading his own papers." "But I'm sure I'll love him dearly if he'll ever look up from the page..." "Branson, when you've finished unloading, run down to the hospital and remind Lady Sybil that we expect her here for dinner." "And tell her I mean it." "Really, they're working her like a packhorse in a mine." "I think she enjoys it, though." "Please tell her to come home in time to change." "I can't possibly come!" "Really, Mama is incorrigible!" "It's not poor Branson's fault." "But what is the point of Mama's soirées?" "What are they for?" "Well, I'm going up for dinner tonight and I'm glad." "Is that wrong?" "Thomas, you can cover for Nurse Crawley, can't you?" "I can." "So you're back then, safe and sound." "That's not how I'd put it, with my hand the way it is." "But, yes, Major Clarkson's found me a place." "And I'm grateful." "Can you give Lieutenant Courtenay his pills?" "Of course I can, I'd be glad to." "Is everything under control?" "Mr Lang seems a bit nervous." "Stage fright." "But what about you?" "Oh, I'm a trooper." "And we can't complain, can we?" "Not when you think what's going on in France." "Still, a broken heart can be as painful as a broken limb." "Don't feel sorry for me, Mrs Hughes." "I'm not." "I know what real love is and there aren't many who can say that." "I'm one of the lucky ones." "If you say so." "So, the fashion for cocktails before dinner hasn't reached Yorkshire?" "I could get Carson to make you one, but I won't guarantee the result." "Mrs Crawley, Captain Crawley and Miss Swire." "Ah!" "Isobel." "Well, now, still in one piece." "Thank God." " Touch wood." " I never stop touching it." "Do you know Sir Richard Carlisle?" "My cousin, Captain Crawley." "How do you do?" "And his fiancée, Miss Swire." "I know Miss Swire." "Her uncle and I are old friends." "Well, old acquaintances, anyway." "What do you think Mary sees in him?" "Besides the money, you mean?" " It must be more than that." " For you." "Not necessarily for her." "What's General Strutt like?" "You know, rather important." "And brave." "He got the DSO in South Africa." "Is there any chance it might be permanent, that we can count you out of danger?" " It would be such a relief." " I wouldn't want that, I'm afraid." "He's promised to get me back to France when he's done with me." "How's your new appointment with the North Ridings working out?" "Oh, that." "It seems I won't be going to the front, after all." "I made a mistake." "They only wanted a mascot." "Mary tells me you're in newspapers?" "Well, I own a few." "Oh?" "That must be quite a responsibility at a time like this, you know, in a war." "When it's so important to keep people's spirits up." "Lady Grantham, my responsibility is to my investors." "I need to keep my readership up." "I leave the public's spirits to government propaganda." "So now you've met Granny." "I warn you, she has very strong opinions." "You need have no fear where that's concerned, my dear." "We are more than evenly matched." " Where are the spoons for this?" " Just here." " Oh, my God, I've forgotten the sauce!" " Mr Lang's bringing the sauce." " And the melba toast." " Right." "Right." "Good." " Now, Mr Lang, are you ready?" " I think so." " It's always the left." "And not ladies first." " No." "Just follow Mr Carson." "Start with old Lady Grantham, then His Lordship." "Then just go on round." "You must have done this before." "Not since the war started." "I don't think I ever knew that." "Why isn't it just ladies first?" "Wouldn't it be more polite?" "That's the way it's done on the Continent." "And we don't like foreign ways here." "I gather your footman, Thomas, has returned to the village." "Crikey." "Where did you see him?" "At the hospital." "Seems he's working there." "I wonder how he wangled that." "No, no, no." "Get back!" "Behind me!" "What do you make of our plutocrat?" "He's an opportunity." "Mary needs a position and preferably a powerful one." "He can provide it." "You don't think she'd be happier with a more traditional setup?" "Will she have the option?" "Thank you, but I already have some." "No, no, give that to me." "I do apologise, milady." "Mr Lang, get a cloth..." "Carson." "Carson!" "What's the matter?" "Now, Carson, it's all right." "Everything will be fine." "Edith, go with Branson and fetch Major Clarkson." "I'll telephone and explain what's happened." "But what about my dress?" "Edith, we'll get you a coat!" "Come!" "Sybil will know what to do until the doctor comes." "You'll find there's never a dull moment in this house." "Lady Sybil and I will take him upstairs if Mrs Hughes will show us the way, please." " I can help." " No, let me." "I Know what I'm doing." "I'm sure that's not necessary, milady." "It's not "milady" now, Carson." "Mr Lang." " It's Nurse Crawley." " Mr Lang!" "Anna and Ethel, I must trust the dinner to you." "Well, I'd say the first course is a thing of the past." "Then clear and lay the hot plates." "Daisy, you fetch the beef and the rest of it." "And, Anna, you'll have to serve the wine." "Mr Lang, you can clear up the mess." " I'll do that." " There's no need." " I don't mind." " I thank you." "Mr Lang, you'd better go downstairs." "Well, Clarkson's seen him." "It's definitely not a heart attack, but he does need rest." "He's working much too hard." "For a start, he's just got to let the maids serve in the dining room." "Quite right." "There is a war." "Even Carson has to make sacrifices." "Poor Lang!" "He looked like a rabbit in front of a snake." "I don't understand it." "He seemed so solid when I met him, even taciturn, but now he's a bundle of nerves." "I heard what you said to Matthew about the regiment." "Everyone else knows what a fool I made of myself." "Why shouldn't he?" "I don't think you're a fool." "Isn't that enough?" "No." "Maybe it should be, but it isn't." "Are you all right, Mr Lang?" "You're not, are you?" "I've seen shell shock before, you know." "I had a brother with it." "My favourite brother, as it happens." "And I was his favourite, too." "They sent him back and he's dead now." "They won't send me back." "I'm a goner as far as they're concerned." " You shouldn't be working yet." " I must work." "I don't know what I'd do else." "I have to work." "Mr Lang, I thought you'd gone up." "He wanted to hang up the livery before it got creased." "Well, we can discuss the dinner another time." "I'll say good night." "Good night, Mrs Hughes." "Good night." "May I come in?" "That's very kind of you, milady, but do you think you should?" "Let's hope my reputation will survive it." "And rest easy." "Please." "I gather it isn't too serious." "Oh, I've been very stupid, milady" "I let myself get flustered." "I regard that as highly unprofessional." "It won't happen again." "You mustn't be too hard on yourself." "I was particularly sorry to spoil things for Sir Richard, knowing he was a guest of yours." "Don't be." "I think he found it all quite exciting." "Oh." "Will we be seeing a lot of him?" "I don't know." "Maybe." "And Captain Crawley?" "Is he happy with the changes, so to speak?" "May I give you one piece of advice, milady?" "Tell him what's in your heart." "If you still love him, let him know." "Then even if he's killed, and he may be, you won't be sorry." "If you don't tell him, you could regret it all your life long." "And what about Miss Swire?" "Miss Swire!" "As if any man in his right mind could prefer Miss Swire to you." "Oh, I'm so sorry, milady." "I didn't know you were in here." "I was just going." "Carson's been boosting my confidence." "That's something I'd never have thought she was short of." "What about you, sir?" "What did you do before the war started?" "I was up at Oxford." "But I only ever planned to farm." "Farm and shoot and hunt and fish, and everything I'll never do again." "You don't know that, sir." "We've had cases of gas blindness wearing off." "Rare cases." "And much sooner than this." "It doesn't help me to be lied to, you know." "I'm finished, and I'd rather face it than dodge it." "I'd better go." "Where's Rosamund?" "She's with your mama." "Trying to talk her into the idea of Sir Richard." "You don't sound very enthusiastic." "Are you?" " Can we stop for a minute?" " Don't tell me you're tired." "I'm not tired." "I'm hot ." "This tweed is too thick." "It looks more suited to shooting than walking." "I had it made for the weekend." "I didn't know there was a difference." "It doesn't matter." "That's like the rich who say that money doesn't matter." "It matters enough when you haven't got it." "I know you don't care about our silly rules." "You're always very clear on that score." "You make me sound rude and I hope I'm not that." "I mean to learn how to do things properly and I'm sure you could help me a lot." "But I'm not ashamed of being what they call a self-made man." "I'm proud of it." "Is the point of all this to test me in some way?" "Maybe." "Are you shocked by my bold and modern values?" "Oh, Sir Richard, you flatter yourself." "It takes a good deal more than that to shock me." "But, Mama, who do you imagine is out there with more to offer?" " I am not a romantic." " I should hope not." "But even I will concede that the heart does not exist solely for the purpose of pumping blood." "That is charming, especially from you." "But Mary seems to have blotted her copybook in some way." "So she needs a suitable marriage that will mend her fences." "Well, how do we know Carlisle is suitable?" "I mean, who is he?" "Who'd ever heard of him before the war?" "Sir Richard is powerful and rich, and well on the way to a peerage." "Of course he may not be all that one would wish, but Mary can soon smooth off the rough edges." " Well, you should know." " What do you mean by that?" "Marmaduke was a gentleman." "Marmaduke was the grandson of a manufacturer." "His mother was the daughter of a baronet." "Maybe." "But they were no great threat to the Plantagenets." "The point is, I made up for any social deficiencies and he provided me with a position." "It was a good exchange and it worked well." "How can Matthew have chosen that little blonde piece?" "You speak so eloquently of the human heart, Mama." "You must be aware of its vagaries." ""Things cannot be as they were and whatever you might think," " "Jack has your best interests at heart."" " Stop." "Who's Jack?" "My younger brother." "He means to replace me." "It's what he's always wanted." "Yeah, well..." "I'm sorry." "I mustn't bore you." "Don't let them walk all over you." "You've got to fight your corner." " What with?" " Your brain." "You're not a victim." "Don't let them make you into one." "You know, when you talk like that, I almost believe you." "Well, you should believe me." "All my life, they've pushed me around just 'cause I'm different." "How?" "Why are you different?" "Never mind." "Look..." "Look, I..." "I don't know if you're gonna see again or not." "But I do know you have to fight back." "How dare you threaten me?" "How dare I?" "Oh, I assure you, I dare a great deal more than that." "But you can't!" "You wouldn't!" "I didn't say I would." "I was merely reminding you it was in my power." " Lady Painswick." " Lady Rosamund." "I'm sorry." "I'll get these things sorted out before too long." "It's not important." "Miss Swire and I were just talking about old times." "Happy old times, I hope." "Will you forgive me?" "I want to write some letters before dinner." "Let's have a rest." "We've earned it." "I should have gone in for a glass." "I don't suppose you can drink out of a bottle, can you, milady?" " I wish you'd call me Edith." " Oh." "And of course I can drink from the bottle." "Would you like me to teach you to drive?" "Not much. 'Cause then you wouldn't come here no more." "Although that wouldn't matter to you." "Why do you say that?" "You're pretty and clever and fine." "You're from a different world." " Is something wrong?" " No." "We're just having a break." "'Cause you want to get into town to fetch the bone meal and be back in time to feed the cows before it's dark." "They could always have a midnight feast." "That's it." "That's right, sir." "If you move the stick fast enough, you don't have to slacken your pace." "And check the width of the space as well as any possible obstruction." "Lieutenant Courtenay, well done." "You're making good progress." "Thanks to my saviours, sir." "So you'll be pleased to hear that we're all agreed that it's time for you to continue your treatment elsewhere." " What?" " At Farley Hall." "You're not ill any more." "All you need is time to adjust to your condition, and the staff at Farley can help with that." "But, sir, these two are helping me here." "Oh, Nurse Crawley and Corporal Barrow are not trained in specialist care." "Please, don't send me away." "Not yet." "Sir, surely we..." "Lieutenant, you must know that every one of our beds is needed for the injured and dying from Arras." "Hmm?" "Corporal, I'll see you in my office." "Sir, I only meant to say that Lieutenant Courtenay is depressed..." "I will not leave wounded soldiers freezing or sweating under a canvas because one junior officer is depressed!" "Yes!" "I thought you may want to know what I think." "Why should I?" "Nurse Crawley, I may not be your social superior in a Mayfair ballroom, but, in this hospital, I have the deciding voice." "Please help him prepare his belongings." "He leaves first thing in the morning." "Anna and Ethel will wait at the table and I will supervise." " What's wrong with that?" " Nothing." "Except that it's how a chartered accountant would have his dinner served." "I can think of worse insults." "If you say so." "But I don't want Lang allowed anywhere near it." "Oh, Mr Bates, where are you when we need you?" "Can you bring me the wine ledgers and I'll make a selection?" "His Lordship's already done that." "Just try to rest." "To rest or to feel redundant?" "Both, if it'll slow you down for a minute and a half." "The world does not turn on the style of a dinner." "My world does." "How does he know Miss Swire?" " What?" " Miss Swire." "They were in the garden when I came back from Mama's." "I suppose they met in London." "Would you like me to come back later, milady?" "No, come in." "I was just leaving." " How's Carson getting on?" " Oh, much better, milady." "Mrs Hughes is having a job keeping him in bed." "He gave me some advice last night." "Oh, yes?" "Was it good advice?" "It was about honesty." "He thinks I should say what I really feel." "Sounds a bit wild for Mr Carson." "But do you think he's right?" "Well, they do say honesty's the best policy." "And I think you regret being honest less often than you regret telling lies." "He must have smuggled a razor into his bed." "There was nothing to be done." " It's because we ordered him to go." " We don't know that." "This is a tragedy." "I don't deny it." "But I cannot see what other course was open to me." "We have no room for men to convalesce here and Farley is the nearest house I can send them to." "There is a solution and it's staring us in the face." " Downton Abbey." " Would they ever allow it?" " Or even consider it?" " I think they would." "After this, I think they can be made to." " But, Sir Richard, you don't have to..." " Richard, please." "You see, I want you to marry me." "Why?" "Because I think very highly of you." "Very highly?" "Goodness." "I mean it." "I think we'd do well together." "We could be a good team." "Now, that sounds better." "But I can't help thinking that tradition demands a little mention of love." "Oh, I can talk about love and moon and June and all the rest of it, if you wish." "But we're more than that." "We're strong and sharp and we can build something worth having, you and I, if you'll let us." "Your proposal is improving by leaps and bounds." "You must give me some time, but I promise to think about it." "Properly." "I'm counting on it." "Those two can go right to the end, right to the other end." "Back you go." "Her Ladyship had Mrs Patmore make this up for you." "So you could eat something during the day." "Oh, another time." "Dr Clarkson..." "Oh, Matthew, I'm afraid I'm very busy, as you can see." "Yes, I just want to help..." "Right over there." "Is it what you thought it would be?" "No." "No, it's more savage and more cruel than I could have imagined." "But, I feel useful for the first time in my life." "And that must be a good thing." " Matthew, are you busy?" " No, of course not." "Let's get you into bed." "So you wouldn't go back to your life before the war?" "No." "No, I could never go back to that again." "Lavinia?" "What's the matter?" "Are you looking for Matthew?" "I was." "But it's not important." "Tell me what it is." "Please." "He has to go a day early." "Tomorrow morning, in fact." "Only to meet his General, surely?" "Not back to France?" "But he must go back one day, and I can't stop thinking about what I'd do if anything happened to him." "I know he'll be all right." "No, you don't." "None of us do." "We say that sort of thing, but we don't know." "If he died, I don't think I could go on living." "What's doing?" "Excuse me." "Lavinia's a bit upset." "She's awfully cut up that I have to go early." "But it's only to Coventry, which doesn't sound too dangerous." "If you're looking for Mother, she's at the hospital." "I've just come from there." "Actually, it's you I came to see." "Oh?" "How can I help?" "Mary, can you stay for luncheon?" "I can't." "But thank you." "So, what was your mission?" "Just to say..." "We hope you're still coming for dinner tonight." "Certainly we are." "Why wouldn't we?" "Sure?" "It'll be your last evening." "Why?" "Don't you want me?" "Of course I want you." "Very much." "I'm sorry you've had a wasted journey." "Not at all." "I needed an excuse for a walk." "I'll see you at 8:00." "Ethel said you wanted me." "No, no." "I just need a word with you." " If it's about that book, I'm afraid I..." " No." "No, no, it's not about the book." "What is it, then?" "I understand that Mr Bates has gone for good." "Yes." "I believe that's true." "So I was hoping we might be able to see a little more of each other." "Mr Molesley, I take this as a real compliment." "But it's not going to happen." "No." "You see..." "If you had a child and that child was taken from you, if the child was sent to the moon, there'd never be one day when they were out of your thoughts, nor one moment when you weren't praying for their welfare." "Even if you knew you'd never see them again." "And that's you and Mr Bates." "That's me and Mr Bates." "But thank you." "I've kept you too long." "You'd better get back, or they'll come looking for you." " We've done a lot, haven't we?" " We have." "I'll be forced to invent some tasks, or there'll be no need for you to come much more." "Then start inventing, please." "I will." "Because I'd hate it if you were to stay away." "So would I. I'd absolutely hate it." "I can't believe I've done that." "I'm awfully glad you did." "You'll have me thrown in the tower." "Only if they give me the key." "Fold it in, don't slap it!" "You're making a cake, not beating a carpet!" "Oh, sorry, Your Lordship, I didn't see you there." "It's quite all right, Mrs Patmore." "I wonder, is there somewhere we could have a word?" "Why not go into my sitting room?" "Please sit." "I do have some news of your nephew." "I telephoned the War Office and they have just come back to me." "But I'm afraid it's not good news." "I knew he was dead all along." "I said so to my sister." "I said, "Kate," I said, "He's gone and you'll have to face..."" "Mrs Patmore, it's worse than that." "But what can be worse than being dead?" "Private Philpotts was shot for cowardice on the 17th of February." "Oh, my God." "This explains why the regiment was reluctant to supply information." "Mrs Hughes, could you come in, please?" "Mrs Patmore has had some bad news." "Her nephew has been killed." " Oh, he never has." " And that's not all..." "It is all, Mrs Patmore." "Let us make sure it is all." "Your sister needs to know no more than this." "We cannot know the truth." "We should not judge." "I think it's a ridiculous idea!" " Why?" " Because this is a house, not a hospital!" "But, Granny, a convalescent home is where people rest and recuperate." "But if there are relapses, what then?" "Amputation in the dining room?" "Resuscitation in the pantry?" "It would certainly be the most tremendous disturbance." "If you knew how chaotic things are as it is." "But when there's so much good can be done." "I forbid it!" "To have strange men prodding and prying around the house, to say nothing of pocketing the spoons!" "It's out of the question." "I hesitate to remind you, but this is my house now," "Robert's and mine." "And we will make the decision." "Oh, I see." "So, now I'm an outsider who need not be consulted?" "Since you put it like that, yes." "What was it like at the hospital today?" "At the front, the men pray to be spared, of course." "But if that's not to be, they pray for a bullet that kills them cleanly." "For too many of them today, that prayer had not been answered." "We'll eat in about 20 minutes." "Good." "And would you have any to spare for a poor traveller?" "William!" "I don't believe if!" "Pinch me." "I am your dream come true." "You're like a real soldier." "I am a real soldier, thank you very much." "Now, come and give me a kiss." "Oh, we'll have none of that!" "Won't you let a tommy Kiss his sweetheart, Mrs Patmore, when he's off to fight the Hun?" "Have you finished your training?" "Not yet." "But it won't be long now." "Well, on the eve of departure, we'll see." "But right now, put her down." " So, what do you think?" " There." "WILLIAMS Smart, ain't it?" "William, what a treat to see you." "And how smart you look." " Welcome." " Thanks." "Supper won't be long." "I'm just going up to clear the dining room." "Shall I help?" "Course not." "You're in the army now." "So, still full of the joys of warfare?" "I'm not sorry to be part of it, Mr Lang, and I can't pretend I am." "Oh, yes, you're part of it." "Like a metal cog is part of a factory, or a grain of sand is part of the beach." "It's all right, Mr Lang." "I understand." "And I'm not saying I'm important or owt like that." "But I believe in this war." "I believe in what we're fighting for and I want to do my bit." "Then God help you." "Edith seems jolly tonight." "She's found her métier Farm labouring." "Don't be so tough on her." "That's like asking the fox to spare the chicken." "What about you?" "Last time you told me good news was imminent." " Would you be happy if it were?" " Of course." "I've found someone now, and I want you to do the same." "If you'd taken another minute to make up your mind, sir, we'd all have marched over the cliff!" "And I'll tell you something else as well..." "William's got more to say than a parliamentary candidate." " What's the matter?" " I know it's my fault, but, I wish I hadn't let him think that we're like Sweethearts, because we're not." "Not by my reckoning, anyway." "Too late for second thoughts now, Missy." "You don't have to marry him when it comes to it, but you can't let him go to war with a broken heart, or he won't come back." "What a time we've had." "Poor Sir Richard must have thought he'd come to a madhouse." "I don't expect it'll put him off." "I'm going to accept him." "Do you think I should?" "That's not for me to say." "If you love him more than anyone in the world then of course you should." " It's not as simple as that." " No?" "It is for me, but then I'm not Your Ladyship." "Did you love Bates more than anyone else in the world?" "I did." "I do." "I'll never love again like I love him." "Never." "Well, there you are, then." "One day you'll meet someone else and you'll marry." "Perhaps it will be second best, but it doesn't mean you can't have a life." "I think it does for me." "Are you sure you should be doing this, Carson?" "We've managed very well with Mrs Hughes." "Quite sure, milord." "And breakfast is not a taxing assignment." "Edith, this is a message for you." "Mrs Drake writes that they've decided to hire a man, so they won't be needing you any more." "Is that all she says?" "Oh, well, she's very grateful." "Here we are." "She says she and Drake send their thanks to you for giving up so much of your valuable time." "I expect it's rather a relief." "Oh, I wouldn't say that." "Not entirely." "Has Lady Sybil gone already?" "She had a tray at 6:30." "She would." "Carson, have they told you we're to be turned into a hospital?" "A convalescent home." "I'm afraid we've all bullied you into the whole thing." "I hope you're not dreading it too much." "Not dreading it exactly, but it's a brave new world we're headed for, no doubt about that." "We must try to meet it"