[Robert knocks and enters.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　You look very nice.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Thank you, darling. Did Murray make matters clearer?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Yes, I'm afraid he did.

　　[Cora is disappointed, but she waits for O'Brien to leave before speaking.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　By the way, O'Brien says Bates is causing a lot of awkwardness downstairs. You may have to

　　do something about it.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　She's always making trouble.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Is that fair? When she hasn't mentioned it before now.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I don't know why you listen to her.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　It is quite eccentric, even for you, to have a cripple valet.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Please...don't use that word.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Did he tell you he couldn't walk when he made his application?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Don't exaggerate.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Doesn't it strike you as dishonest not to mention it?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I knew he'd been wounded.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　You never said.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　You know I don't care to talk about all that.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Of course, I understand what it must be like to have fought alongside someone in a war.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Oh, you understand that, do you?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Certainly I do. You must form the most tremendous bonds. Even with a servant.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Really? \"Even with a servant\"?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Oh, Robert, don't catch me out. I'm simply saying I fully see why you want to help him.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　But?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　But...is this the right way? To employ him for a job he can't do? Is it any wonder the others

　　noses are put out?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I just want to give him a chance.

　　[Cora sighs.]

　　[INT. DRAWING ROOM - EVENING]

　　[Robert enters to find Violet looking out a window.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Mama, I'm sorry. No one told me you were here.

　　[Violet turns around and opens her decorative fan to block the light coming from the electric

　　chandelier.]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Such a glare. I feel as if I were on stage at the Gaiety.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　We're used to it. I do wish you'd let me install it in the Dower House; it's very convenient. The

　　man who manages the generator could look after yours as well.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　No. I couldn't have electricity in the house. I wouldn't sleep a wink. All those vapours seeping

　　about.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Even Cora won't have it in the bedroom. She did wonder about the kitchens, but I couldn't see

　　the point.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, before anyone joins us, I'm glad of this chance for a little talk.

　　[They sit.]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I gather Murray was here today?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　News travels fast. Yes, I saw him, and he's not optimistic that there's anything we can do.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, I refuse to believe it.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Be that as it may, it's a fact.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　But to lose Cora's fortune!

　　[Robert scoffs and stands up.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Really, Mama, you know as well as I do that Cora's fortune is not Cora's fortune anymore.

　　Thanks to Papa it is now part of the estate, and the estate is entailed to my heir. That is it. That

　　is all of it.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Robert, dear, I don't mean to sound harsh--

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　You may not mean to, but I bet you will.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Twenty-four years ago, you married Cora against my wishes for her money! Give it away now,

　　what was the point of your peculiar marriage in the first place?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　If I were to tell you she's made me very happy, would that stretch belief?

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　It's not why you chose her...above all those other girls who could've filled my shoes so easily.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　If you must know, when I think of my motives for pursuing Cora, I'm ashamed. There's no need

　　to remind me of them.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Don't you care about Downton?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　What do you think? I've given my life to Downton. I was born here, and I hope to die here. I

　　claim no career beyond the nurture of this house and the estate. It is my third parent and my

　　fourth child. Do I care about it? Yes, I do care!

　　[Someone enters and Violet gives him a shushing expression.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I hope I don't hear sounds of a disagreement.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　What? Is that what they call discussion in New York?

　　LADY MARY

　　Well, I'm glad you're fighting. I'm glad somebody's putting up a fight

　　LADY SYBIL

　　You're not really fighting Granny, are you, Papa?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Your grandmother merely wishes to do the right thing. And so do I.

　　[Carson enters.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Dinner is served, my lady.

　　[INT. KITCHENS - EVENING]

　　DAISY

　　Does anyone else keep dreaming about the

　　Titanic

　　? I can't get it out of my mind.

　　GWEN

　　Not again. Give it a rest.

　　ANNA

　　Daisy, it's time to let it go.

　　DAISY

　　But all them people freezing to death in midnight icy water.

　　MISS O'BRIEN

　　Oh, you sound like a penny dreadful.

　　GWEN

　　I expect you saw worse things in South Africa, eh Mr Bates?

　　MR BATES

　　Not worse, but pretty bad.

　　DAISY

　　Did you enjoy the war?

　　MR BATES

　　I don't think anyone enjoys war, but there are some good memories, too.

　　ANNA

　　I'm sure there are.

　　GWEN

　　Mr Bates, could you hand me that tray?

　　[Mr Bates gets up to grab it, but his knee twinges and he spills the whole contents on the floor  as he grabs his knee. Anna gets up quickly.]

　　ANNA

　　I'll do it.

　　[Gwen clearly feels awkward.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Ladies are out. We've given them coffee. His Lordship's taken his port to the library. Anna,

　　Gwen, go up and help clear away. Er, Daisy, tell Mrs Patmore we'll eat in 15 minutes.

　　[Mr Bates, Mr Carson, and Miss O'Brien sit at the table.]

　　[INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING]

　　[The servants clear the table.]

　　GWEN

　　I keep forgetting, does this go next door or back to the kitchen?

　　THOMAS

　　Those go back, but the dessert service and all the glasses stay in the upstairs pantry.

　　WILLIAM

　　Put it on here.

　　[Gwen sets the dish down on the tray. O'Brien creeps up to Thomas in the antechamber.]

　　THOMAS

　　What is it?

　　MISS O'BRIEN

　　Her Ladyship's told him she thinks Mr Bates ought to go. She said to me, \"If only His Lordship had been content with Thomas.\"

　　THOMAS

　　Did she really?

　　ANNA

　　What are you doing up here?

　　MISS O'BRIEN

　　It's a free country.

　　ANNA

　　Well, I'm going for my dinner. You two can stay here...plotting.

　　[INT. THE DOWER HOUSE - DAY]

　　[Violet holds a letter.]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　So, the young Duke of Crowborough is asking himself to stay.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　We know why?

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　You hope you know  why.  That is not at all the same. You realise the duke thinks Mary's prospects have altered?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I suppose so.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　There's no suppose about it. Of course, this is exactly the sort of opportunity that will come to Mary if we can only get things settled in her favour. Is Robert coming 'round?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Not yet. To him, the risk is we succeed in saving my money, but not the estate. He feels he'd be betraying his duty if Downton were lost because of him.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, I'm going to write to Murray.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　He won't say anything different.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, we have to start somewhere. Our duty is to Mary. Well, give him a date for when Mary's out of mourning.

　　[Violet hands the letter back to Cora.]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　No one wants to kiss a girl in black.

　　[INT. LADY MARY'S BEDROOM - DAY]

　　[Sybil puts a flower in Mary's hair as they stand in front of the mirror.]

　　LADY EDITH

　　Oh, do stop admiring yourself. He's not marrying you for your looks. That's if he wants to marry

　　you at all.

　　LADY MARY

　　He will.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　You look beautiful.

　　LADY MARY

　　Thank you Sybil, darling.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　We should go down. They'll be back from the station at any moment.

　　[The girls file out.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Let's not gild the lily, dear.

　　[Cora takes the flower out of Mary's hair and lowers her voice to a whisper.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　And Mary, try to look surprised.

　　[INT. SERVANTS' CORRIDOR - DAY]

　　MR CARSON

　　You all ready?

　　[Carson inspects William's uniform.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Very well. We shall go out to greet them.

　　DAISY

　　And me, Mr Carson?

　　MR CARSON

　　No, Daisy, no you.

　　[Daisy's expression falls.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Can you manage, Mr Bates, or would you rather wait here?

　　MR BATES

　　I want to go, Mr Carson.

　　MR CARSON

　　There's no obligation for the whole staff to be present.

　　MR BATES

　　I'd like to be there.

　　MR CARSON

　　Well, it's certainly a great day for Downton to welcome a duke under our roof.

　　THOMAS (to William)

　　Remember to help me with the luggage. Don't go running off.

　　MR BATES

　　I'll give you a hand.

　　THOMAS

　　Oh, I couldn't ask that, Mr Bates, not in your condition.

　　[The servants head upstairs and Thomas turns to Mr Carson.]

　　THOMAS

　　How long do we have to put up with this, Mr Carson, just so I know?

　　[EXT. DOWNTON ABBEY, FRONT WALK - DAY]

　　[The servants line up and the family exits the house. William opens the car door for the duke

　　and Robert.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Welcome to Downton.

　　[Mrs Hughes and the housemaids curtsy and the men bow their heads.]

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Lady Grantham, this is so kind of you.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Not at all, Duke. I'm delighted you could spare the time. You know my daughter, Mary, of

　　course.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Of course, Lady Mary.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　And Edith, but I don't believe you've met my youngest, Sybil.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Ah, Lady Sybil.

　　[They step forward to shake hands.]

　　LADY SYBIL

　　How do you do?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Come on in, you must be worn out.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Oh, Lady Grantham, I have a confession to make, which I hope won't cause too much bother. My man was taken ill just as I was leaving, so...

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Oh, well, that won't be a problem, will it Carson?

　　MR CARSON

　　Certainly not. I shall look after His Grace myself.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Oh, no, I wouldn't dream of being such a nuisance, surely a footman...

　　[The duke looks at Thomas.]

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I remember this man. Didn't you serve me when I dined with Lady Grantham in London?

　　THOMAS

　　I did, Your Grace.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Ah, there we are. We shall do very well together, won't we...?

　　THOMAS

　　Er, Thomas, Your Grace.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　...Thomas.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Good.

　　[The family heads inside.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I hope you had a pleasant journey.

　　[O'Brien kicks Bates's cane out from under him and he falls.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Bates, are you all right?

　　MR BATES

　　Perfectly, my lord. I apologise.

　　[The family continues inside and Bates looks up at O'Brien. Anna crouches  down to help

　　Bates.]

　　ANNA

　　Mr Bates.

　　[William closes the front door and Anna helps Bates to his feet.]

　　ANNA

　　That's better.

　　MR BATES

　　Please, don't feel sorry for me.

　　[Bates and Anna walk around to the servants' entrance behind the others.]

　　[INT. CORRIDOR - DAY]

　　LADY MARY

　　What shall we do? What would you like to do?

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I think I'd rather like to go exploring.

　　LADY MARY

　　Certainly. Gardens or house?

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　Oh, house, I think. Gardens are all the same to me.

　　[They chuckle.]

　　LADY MARY

　　Very well. We can begin in the hall, which is one of the oldest--

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　No, not all those drawing rooms and libraries.

　　LADY MARY

　　Well what, then?

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　I don't know. The...the secret passages and the attics.

　　LADY MARY

　　It seems a bit odd, but why not? I'll just tell Mama.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　No Don't tell your mama.

　　LADY MARY

　　But there's nothing wrong in it.

　　DUKE OF CROWBOROUGH

　　No, indeed, I'm--I'm only worried the others will want to join us.

　　[Mary smiles, flattered.]