CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I'm  afraid  we're  rather  a  female  party  tonight,  Duke, but  you know  what  it's  like  trying  to balance numbers in the country. A single man outranks the Holy Grail.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　No, I'm ter-- I'm terribly flattered to be dining en famille.

　　LADY EDITH

　　What were you and Mary doing in the attics this afternoon?

　　LADY SYBIL

　　I expect Mary was just showing the duke the house, weren't you?

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Are you a student of architecture?

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Mm, absolutely.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Then I do hope you'll come and inspect my little cottage. It was designed by Rein...

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Ah.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　...for the first earl's sister.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　The attics?

　　LADY EDITH

　　Yes. Mary took the duke up to the attics.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Whatever for?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Why was this, dear?

　　LADY MARY

　　We were just looking around.

　　LADY EDITH

　　Looking around? What is there to look at but servants' rooms? What was the real reason?

　　[Thomas is interested by the conversation.]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM (chuckles uncomfortably)

　　Don't be such a chatterbox, Edith.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I think we'll go through.

　　LADY EDITH

　　I still don't understand--

　　LADY MARY

　　Will you hold your tongue?

　　[The men rise as the women exit in order of age.]

　　[INT. SERVANTS' HALL - EVENING]

　　THOMAS

　　How long do you think they'll be? I'm starving.

　　MR CARSON

　　Have you settled the ladies?

　　THOMAS

　　Yes, Mr Carson.

　　MR CARSON

　　Then it won't be long once they go through.

　　DAISY

　　Do you think he'll speak out? Do you think we'll have a duchess to wait on? Imagine that!

　　MRS PATMORE

　　You won't be waiting on her, whatever happens.

　　MR CARSON

　　There is no reason why the eldest daughter and heiress of the Earl of Grantham should not wear a duchess's coronet with honour.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Heiress, Mr Carson? Has it been decided?

　　MR CARSON

　　It will be if there's any justice in the world.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Well, we'll know soon enough.

　　[Anna puts a plate down on a tray.]

　　MRS PATMORE

　　What you doing, Anna?

　　ANNA

　　I thought I'd take something up to Mr Bates, him not being well enough to come down. You don't mind, do you Mrs Hughes?

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I don't mind, not this once.

　　MR CARSON

　　Take him whatever he might need.

　　[Anna leaves with the tray.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Mr Bates is leaving without a stain on his character. I hope you all observe that in the manner of your parting.

　　WILLIAM

　　Well, I don't see why he has to go. I don't mind doing a bit of extra work.

　　THOMAS

　　It's not up to you. I'll take care of His Lordship, shall I Mr Carson?

　　MR CARSON

　　Not while you're looking after the duke, you won't. I'll see to His Lordship myself.

　　[INT. SERVANTS' BEDROOM CORRIDOR - EVENING]

　　[Anna takes the tray to Mr Bates's room and sees him crying through the slightly open door. She takes a step back and pauses to consider.]

　　ANNA

　　Mr Bates? Are you there?

　　[Bates wipes his eyes with a cloth and comes to the door.]

　　ANNA

　　I brought something up in case you're hungry.

　　MR BATES

　　That's very kind.

　　[Bates puts his cane on his arm and takes the tray and puts it down on a table by the door.]

　　ANNA

　　I'm ever so sorry you're going.

　　MR BATES

　　I'll be all right.

　　ANNA

　　Of course you will. There's always a place for a man like you.

　　MR BATES

　　Oh, yes. Something'll turn up.

　　ANNA

　　Tell us when you're fixed. Just...drop us a line. Else I'll worry.

　　MR BATES

　　Well...we can't have that.

　　[They smile sadly at each other and Bates closes the door.]

　　[INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　We must go and let the servants get in here.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I should be grateful if we could stay just a minute more. I have-- I have something to ask you.

　　[Robert sits back down.]

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I was terribly sorry to hear about your cousins.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　You said. Did you know them?

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Not  well.  I--I  used  to  see  Patrick  Crawley  at  the  odd  thing.  I  imagine  it  will  mean  some adjustments for your...to lose two heirs in one night is terrible.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Indeed, it was terrible.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Awful.  But  then  again,  it's  an  ill  wind.  At  least  Lady  Mary's  prospects  must  have  rather improved.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Have they?

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Haven't they?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I  will  not  be  coy  and  pretend  I do  not understand  your meaning,  though  you seem  very informed on this family's private affairs. But you ought, perhaps, to know that I do not intend to fight the entail. Not any part of it.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　You can't be serious.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　It pains me to say it, but I am.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　You will give up your entire estate - your wife's money into the bargain - to a perfect stranger? You won't even put up a fight?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I hope he proves to be perfect, but I rather doubt it.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Ha. A very odd thing to joke about.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　No odder than this conversation. So, there you have it. But Mary will still have her settlement, which you won't find ungenerous.

　　[The duke coughs.]

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I'm--I'm sorry?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I  only  meant  that her  portion,  when  she  marries  will  be  more  than  respectable. You'll be pleased, I promise you.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Oh, heavens. I--I hope I haven't given the wrong impression.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　You know very well the impression--

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　My dear Lord Grantham--

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Don't \"my dear Lord Grantham\" me! You knew what you were doing when you came here. You

　　encouraged Mary, all of us to thinking--

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Forgive me, but I came to express my sympathies and my friendship, nothing more. L--Lady Mary's a charming person. Whoever marries her will be a lucky man. He will not, however, be me.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I see. And what was it you asked me to stay behind to hear?

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I forget.

　　[Robert glares at the duke.]

　　[INT. GREAT HALL - EVENING]

　　[The duke and Robert part ways. Mary waits for the duke as he lights a candle by the stairs.]

　　LADY MARY

　　Well, aren't you coming into the drawing room?

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I'm--I'm tired. I--I think I'll just slip away. Please make my excuses.

　　LADY MARY

　　I'm afraid I've worn you out. Tomorrow we can just--

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I'm leaving in the morning. Goodnight.

　　[Mary is disappointed. The duke turns around.]

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Oh, you might tell that footman...

　　LADY MARY

　　Thomas.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Thomas. You might tell him I've gone up.

　　[The duke ascends the stairs and Mary processes her disappointment, trying not to cry. Edith

　　approaches from behind to gloat.]

　　LADY EDITH

　　So he slipped the hook.

　　LADY MARY

　　At least I'm not fishing with no bait.

　　[Mary exits, leaving Edith equally upset.]