[INT. GREAT HALL - DAY]

　　[Mrs Hughes does her rounds as the housemaids clean the room.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Hurry up, girls, come on.

　　[00:00:36, INT. DRAWING ROOM - DAY]

　　[Mrs Hughes continues her rounds. A housemaid cleans the chandelier and steps down from

　　the ladder.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Come on, come on. You should be done here. They'll be back from the station any second now.

　　[INT. SERVANTS' CORRIDOR - DAY]

　　[Carson and Mrs Hughes descend the servants' stairs.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I haven't had a chance to ask, how was London?

　　MR CARSON

　　Oh, much as usual. Dirty, noisy, quite enjoyable.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　There was no need for you to come back a day early. I'm perfectly capable of getting the house  ready.

　　MR CARSON

　　Of course you are. But I like to have the heavy luggage back and unpacked before they get

　　here.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I suppose...

　　[Carson and Mrs Hughes suddenly make way as William almost runs into them with a tray of silver vases.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Steady, William! This isn't a race.

　　[William nods and exits.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Poor lad.

　　MR CARSON

　　But he did see her? I was worried when I took him to King's Cross.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Yes, he had time to say goodbye.

　　MR CARSON

　　How is he now?

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Well, you've only got one mother, haven't you?

　　[Gwen rushes in holding some flowers.]

　　GWEN

　　They're here, Mrs Hughes.

　　[Carson and Mrs Hughes head for the stairs.]

　　July 1914

　　[00:01:37, EXT. DOWNTON ABBEY, FRONT WALK - DAY]

　　[The family exits the motorcar.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Hello, William. It's good to have you back.

　　--

　　[INT. GREAT HALL - DAY]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　What a relief to be home.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Don't listen when His Lordship pretends not to enjoy the Season.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　When in Rome.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Will Lady Mary be back soon?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　She's staying on with my sister for a couple of weeks.

　　[The servants assist the family as they remove their travel clothes.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　So Grantham House is closed?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　It will be by the end of this week. Dear Mrs Hughes, I hope you've had some time to yourself while we've been away.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I've tackled a few jobs that get forgotten about when the house is full.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Any local news?

　　MRS HUGHES

　　The main topic here is the murder of the Austrian Archduke.

　　MR CARSON

　　Here and everywhere else.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I'm afraid we haven't heard the last of that. And how's William?

　　MR CARSON

　　Bearing up.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Poor chap. He has our sympathies. I think I'll wash the train off before dinner.

　　MR BATES

　　Very good, milord. I can unpack while you're bathing.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I'll see you up there.

　　[The family and servants depart leaving only Cora and Mrs Hughes.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Oh, Mrs Hughes, have you had any thoughts about the garden party for the hospital?

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I've started on it, but there are things we need to talk about.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Oh, dear. That sounds like trouble. I'll take my hat off. Sybil?

　　[Sybil and Edith stop before they go up the stairs.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　You were a great success in London, darling. Well done.

　　[Sybil smiles and goes up the stairs. Edith looks at her mother.]

　　LADY EDITH

　　You never say that to me?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Don't I?

　　[Cora takes Edith's hand and leads her up the steps.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　You were very helpful, dear. Thank you.

　　[INT. SERVANTS' CORRIDOR - DAY]

　　[Mrs Hughes has a word with Carson as they watch Mrs Patmore and Daisy through the

　　kitchen window.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I hate to spoil Her Ladyship's homecoming, but what are we going to do about Mrs Patmore? She's worse than when you left. Much worse. Oh, and I meant to ask - is there a decision? About Mr Bates leaving?

　　MR CARSON

　　Not yet. His Lordship wants the facts, and Mr Bates won't give them. So what are you going to say to Her Ladyship about Mrs Patmore?

　　MRS HUGHES (sigh)

　　I'm not sure. I don't want the poor woman sacked, but things cannot go on as they are.

　　[EXT. LONDON, PARK - DAY]

　　LADY ROSAMUND

　　There's nothing like an English summer, is there?

　　LADY MARY

　　Except an English winter.

　　LADY ROSAMUND

　　I'm sorry you haven't received more invitations. But then, after four seasons, one is less a debutant than a survivor.

　　LADY MARY

　　Hmm.

　　LADY ROSAMUND

　　My dear, is there anything you're not telling me?

　　LADY MARY

　　No.

　　LADY ROSAMUND

　　Only, one hears stories...

　　LADY MARY

　　There's nothing, Aunt Rosamund.

　　LADY ROSAMUND

　　So, have you decided? Whether or not to marry Cousin Matthew?

　　[Mary looks at Rosamund in surprise.]

　　LADY ROSAMUND

　　Oh, there's no secret Cora can keep for more than a month.

　　LADY MARY

　　You'd be surprised. I've told him I'll give him my answer the day I get back.

　　LADY ROSAMUND

　　Well, it would be very tidy. At least we can say that.