[INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I might go over to Moulton tomorrow. Agatha  promoting her charity fair. Do you need the motor?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I'm afraid I do. Can you get Pratt to take you in the other car?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Doesn't matter, I can go on Monday. But why?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I'm told Bates is working at a public house in Kirkbymoorside. I want to investigate.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I can't decide which part of that speech is the most extraordinary. Why can't someone else go?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Because I want to go myself.

　　[The telephone rings and Carson goes to answer it.]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　So, Sybil, what are you up to, dear?

　　LADY SYBIL

　　Nothing much. Working. I don't have time to get up to anything else.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Only, Mary and I were talking about you. You know, the other day.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　Oh?

　　LADY MARY (mouths) I didn't say anything.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Yes, you see, sometimes in war, one can make friendships that aren't quite…appropriate. And can be awkward, you know, later on. I mean, we've all done it. I just want you to be on your

　　guard.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　Appropriate for whom?

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, don't jump down my throat, dear. I'm only offering friendly advice.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Why do you want to see Bates? To give him his old job back?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Not entirely. I mainly want to see him because we parted badly.

　　[Carson re-enters.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Telephone call for you, milord.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　If you did, I'm sure it's his fault.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　No, it was mine.

　　[Robert gets up from the table and exits into the next room, which is full of the officer's loud conversation.]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Oh, really. It's like living in a second rate hotel where the guests keep arriving and no one seems to leave. (sigh)

　　[After dinner, the ladies exit the dining room and Robert finishes up his phone call.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM (on the telephone) I see.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I had an idea of going up to London for some…

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM (on the telephone) Yes. Thank you for letting me know.

　　LADY EDITH

　　Are you all right, Papa?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　That was the war office. Matthew and William went out on a patrol a few days ago and they haven't been seen since.

　　LADY EDITH

　　Oh, my God.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Let's not fall to pieces quite yet. It happens all the time, apparently, and the men turn up in one field hospital or another.

　　LADY EDITH

　　But they are treating them as Missing In Action?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　It's too early for that. There could be lots of things to explain it.

　　LADY EDITH

　　You mean they could've been taken prisoner.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　It's possible. Don't say anything to Mary. Or your mother. Or anyone, in fact. Not yet. I shouldn't really have told you.

　　LADY EDITH

　　What about Cousin Isobel?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I don't know how to contact her. Anyway, she's in France. She may hear before we do.

　　[Robert takes Edith's hand.]

　　[INT. SERVANTS' CORRIDOR - EVENING]

　　O'BRIEN

　　I'm not accusing her of anything. I did wonder if you were aware of this special storage area.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I daresay Mrs Patmore has her own system like we all do.

　　O'BRIEN

　　Right. Well, I'll say goodnight.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Goodnight.

　　[O'Brien leaves as Mr Molesley puts on his jacket to leave.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Ah, Mr Molesley. You're very late.

　　MR MOLESLEY

　　I was doing some invisible mending on one of his coats. I got a bit carried away. But I'm -- I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I don't see why you can't dress him. Until there's a new valet, it'd be a blessing to Mr Carson.

　　MR MOLESLEY

　　I'd be happy to if it'd help.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Keep this up and we won't be able to do without you at all.

　　MR MOLESLEY

　　There's no reason why you should. Oh, er, I may be wrong, but I thought I saw one of the officers by the main staircase just now. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Let's hope so. Goodnight.

　　[Molesley nods to her and exits. Mrs Hughes takes a breath and heads down the servants' bedroom corridor. She checks the housemaids' bedroom and finds Anna there, but not Ethel. Then she hears giggling and opens the next room and turns on the light to find Major Bryant naked under a sheet with Ethel.]

　　MAJOR BRYANT

　　What the bloody...?

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Ethel!

　　MAJOR BRYANT

　　We were only--

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I know precisely what you were doing, Major. I may not be a woman of the world, but I don't live in a sack! Now, if you will kindly take your things and go downstairs.

　　[Major Bryant goes without protest, a blanket wrapped around his waist.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Ethel, you are dismissed without notice and without a character. You will please leave before breakfast.

　　ETHEL

　　I didn't think how--

　　MRS HUGHES

　　No. And that's a problem. You never do.

　　[Mrs Hughes marches out angry and Ethel is left to panic over her situation.]