唐顿庄园第二季第一集_14

　　[INT. LADY GRANTHAM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT]

　　[O'Brien prepares Cora's hair for bed.]

　　O'BRIEN

　　So, Lady Sybil got off all right in the end. I'm afraid we have toadmit, she knows what she wants.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Yes. She certainly does.

　　O'BRIEN

　　I don't suppose the war will leave any of us alone by the time it's done. I had a letter from Thomasthe other day. He writes that, when he thinks about how things used to be, it seems like a dream.Not much more than two years ago, but he says he might as well be a century.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　So you hear from Thomas? Is he well? Please give him my regards.

　　O'BRIEN

　　He's well enough, my lady. I don't think he'd mind coming home.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Oh, I wish he could, O'Brien.

　　[INT. LORD GRANTHAM'S DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT] ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Of course, if Bates hadn't been so bloody selfish, he would've let us plan for his departure properly.

　　MR CARSON

　　Your Lordship, I have information that I have no proper claim to.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, what is it?

　　MR CARSON

　　Well, if Your Lordship can assure me that you'll keep it to yourself.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM (sigh)

　　I promise, Carson. You can drop the last veil.

　　MR CARSON

　　Well, I feel it is only right to tell you that Mr Bates's leaving was not selfish. Quite the reverse.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Felt selfish to me. As for the wretched Anna, [?] with dishonest promises.

　　MR CARSON (clears throat)

　　Mr Bates left because, had he not done so, his wife was planning to engulf this house in scandal.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM (chuckles)

　　In scandal?

　　[Robert sees Carson's serious expression.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　What scandal?

　　MR CARSON

　　The point is, my lord, Mrs Bates would've made Downton notorious. The price of her silence washer husband's return.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　But I must know what story she was planning to tell.

　　MR CARSON

　　I'm sorry, my lord. I could not speak of it without injuring you and betraying myself. ROBERT,EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　But you are saying that Bates fell on his sword to protect the reputation of my family.

　　[Mr Carson nods.]

　　[INT. DRAWING ROOM - NIGHT]

　　[Ethel is dusting an electric plug by in the near dark. Carson is about to close the doors when hehears the rustling of her duster. He enters and checks on her.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Ethel, what are you doing?

　　ETHEL

　　Seeing to the plugs for the night.

　　MR CARSON

　　What?

　　ETHEL

　　Polishing the electric plugs and checking them for vapours.

　　MR CARSON

　　And why are you doing this?

　　ETHEL

　　Because you were too busy. She said you usually did it, but could I manage it tonight.

　　MR CARSON

　　And "she", I take it, would be Miss O'Brien.

　　[Mr Carson gives Ethel a look, revealing her naivety.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Go to bed, Ethel. And next time she gives you an order, ask me first.

　　[INT. LADY GRANTHAM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT]

　　[Robert absentmindedly removes his robe, lost in thought.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Is anything the matter?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Nothing. Except that today has shown me I am not only a worthless man, but also a bad

　　tempered and ungrateful one.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, we all know that.

　　[Robert lets out a puff of amusement.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Can I help? I wonder how Sybil's feeling.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　The war's reaching its long fingers into Downton and scattering out chicks. But I'm glad we madepeace with Matthew.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I agree. Let us thank Sir Richard Carlisle for distracting Mary at just the right moment. By the way,she wants him to come and stay so we can all meet him.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　She wants us to invite a hawker of newspaper scandal to stay as a guest in this house? It's lucky Ihave a sense of irony.