Downton Abbey

I think we're all here. I'm looking forward to this.

You should be at this board meeting.

You're a trustee and the patron.

- Why are they coming here? - I don't know exactly.

I suppose they have something they want to tell us, but I don't know what.

They obviously need more money.

Right. We're off. See you later.

Who's that? It's not one of the farmers' wives, is it?

No, I don't think so.

Do you really like riding like that

when a sidesaddle is so much more graceful?

And so much more dangerous.

Is Mama right? You're dodging the hospital meeting?

Only a little bit.

- May I be of assistance? - Uh, no, thank you.

Well, I expect you'll want to get started.

- Started at what? - Following the hunt.

If you go with the others, they'll show you

where you can watch them jump the brook.

I see. Ta very much.

Hmm.

Oh.

- Can I lick the bowl? - Yes. You can both lick the bowl.

- Yummy. I enjoyed that.

- Was it your first meet? - There's not much hunting in Bayswater.

Andy, go back and check that everything's come down.

- I think it has, Mrs. Hughes. - Never hurts to check.

- He's a nice boy. He is.

And I think I'm showing him the right way to go about things.

I should let him find his own way, Mr. Barrow.

Can I have a piggy back?

All right then, but not for long.

I want to go hunting too.

All aboard. And off we go.

Giddy, giddy, giddy, go! Faster! Faster!

Everything running smoothly?

Oh, I suppose so.

But it's harder with no kitchen maid, you know.

Have you settled on a date yet?

Date? Oh, you mean for the wedding?

No, not yet.

Giddap!

Oh. What are you doing up here?

The button came off my cuff.

I thought I'd mend it before things got busy.

Shall we go down?

Before we do,

I wish you'd tell me what's wrong.

Whatever makes you say that?

- You'll say I'm being stupid. - Well, maybe you are.

Maybe.

You see, when I accepted Mr. Carson...

You didn't mean it.

- Oh, yes, I did. - Oh.

He is a very, very dear man.

So, what's the problem?

I hadn't fully considered

all the aspects of marriage,

of what I was getting into...

I don't understand. What aspects?

You know each other better than most couples at the start.

Oh, my Lord.

You mean...

Yes.

That is precisely what I mean.

Well, there's nothing so terrible about it, is there?

So they say.

- I wouldn't know, of course. - Mrs. Patmore, look at me.

I'm a woman in late middle age.

Oh, don't say "late."

I was not bad-looking as a girl, if you can believe it.

Very easily.

But these days?

I'm not sure I can let him see me as I am now.

Perhaps you can keep the lights off.

That is not helpful, Mrs. Patmore.

Well, won't he feel the same?

I mean, no one's clapped eyes on him without his togs for years.

- Except the doctor. - Good point.

A very good point.

Maybe he'd prefer us to leave that side of things alone?

Sorry?

Live like brother and sister, you mean?

A very loving brother and sister.

- And that's what you want? - I don't know what I want.

Except not to feel embarrassed and absurd.

Is this why you've not fixed the date?

I think we should be clear about what we're doing.

- Or not doing. - Yes.

Thank you, Mrs. Patmore.

The trouble is, I don't believe it's a conversation

I can have with him.

Oh. You're not suggesting I try?

Oh, would you?

Oh! By heck!

I've had some commissions in my time, but...

It would be such a weight off my mind.

Mmm.

Anna?

- Whatever's happened? - Nothing. I'm starting a cold.

I'd better get on.

- Are you all right? -

Of course.

No bones broken anyway.

Thanks to nice Mr. Fairclough here.

Very kind of you, Fairclough. Good to see you out.

I never like to miss a day's hunting when it's on me doorstep.

Shall I take you back to the house, my lady?

Certainly not.

If you can just give me a hand up.

Steady now.

I'm not taking any sort of tone.

I'm just reminding you of the deadline.

Thank you.

Good-bye.

Trouble at mill?

My editor, Mr. Skinner, again.

- What's the problem? - Everything's a problem.

No, that's not quite true. I think the problem is me.

He doesn't like working for a woman.

Simple as that.

I suppose you're right not selling up and taking the money?

I think I am.

Andrew, please ask Mrs. Hughes to organize tea for...

I'm not sure. Can you count them as they arrive?

Very good, my lady.

When did you learn about this? - What do you mean?

Well, you seem to be in possession of the facts

when it's the first time we've heard of it.

What does that matter?

The fact is that the Royal Yorkshire County Hospital

wants to take over our little hospital.

Which is outrageous.

But it's not as simple as that.

Why not?

Well, because there may be benefits for the village.

If we form such a partnership,

our patients would have access to more modern equipment,

to more advanced treatments.

Our fund-raising would be more efficient.

And the price of the fund-raising would be to lose all control

and to become the tools of a faceless committee in York.

What matters more? Health or power?

What matters is to have power over the maintenance of our own health.

Ladies, ladies, please!

Lady Grantham is right.

Our independence is surely not something

we should just abandon without a second thought.

How did you find out about this?

- They wrote to me. - Who did?

I'm the hospital almoner. Nobody's written to me.

Ever since you took that position, you talk as if you run the place.

I do run the place!

Or at least I know every detail of how it's run.

And I ought to be told about any proposed changes.

You're being told now.

If you must know, it was a friend on the board in York

who whispered it to me.

They'll write to all of us soon.

So, you want to protect your power at the expense of the patients.

I want to protect the patients at the expense of my power.

And may the best man win.

I'm glad we agree on this.

Don't let's make too much of it.

I'm fine.

Good afternoon.

I'm going in.

I'm completely whacked.

Don't tell your mother.

Can you make sure he gets a proper rubdown?

- He did well. - Yes, my lady.

Who are you?

Rita Bevan. Don't you know me, Lady Mary?

- 'Cause I know you. - No. I do not know you.

And I suppose you've forgotten the Grand Hotel in Liverpool too, my lady?

And the nights you spent there with Viscount Gillingham?

I was a chamber maid.

But I suppose we're invisible to people like you.

This is all nonsense. You've no proof.

Don't be silly. You don't know what I've got.

To start with, I've got a page from the register.

- Then you are a thief. - Yes.

I am a thief, and I want a thousand pounds to keep me mouth shut.

That's ridiculous.

We'll see how ridiculous it is.

I'm going now, but I'll be back.

Don't bother. You're not the first person who's tried to blackmail me.

Well, I'm glad you know how it works.

And as I say, I will be back.

- A penny for your thoughts. - They're not worth as much.

- They would be to me. Oh, I'm worn out.

Give me some tea.

- You let those children run you ragged. - Thank you.

I've had Miss Marigold on my back since luncheon.

- How lucky is that child? - Why do you say that?

Well, what was she? A farmer's daughter.

Until she caught the eye of Lady Edith.

Now she'll grow up in the bosom of a great family

and no doubt live her life accordingly.

I don't believe Miss Marigold has any greater guarantee of happiness.