Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 Read Online Free Page B

are starting to walk past them, nodding and smiling sadly, and enter the dining room.
    CORA: Lord Grantham says you’re not staying, after all?
    MURRAY: You’re very kind, Lady Grantham, but I must get back to London.
    CORA: But you’ll stay for luncheon?
    MURRAY: Thank you, but no. I’ll eat on the train. In fact, if you’d be so good as to ask for the motor to be brought round.
    CORA: I thought you wanted the afternoon to talk things through?
    MURRAY: I think we’ve said everything we have to say. Haven’t we, my lord?
    He looks over for confirmation.
    ROBERT: For the time being, yes. Thank you, Murray. You’ve given me a good deal to think about.
    Is this hopeful? The girls are loitering to one side.
    CORA: Mary, try to get everyone into the dining room. And Edith, make sure old Lord Minterne sits down.
44 INT. CARSON’S PANTRY. DAY.
    Carson is decanting port. He has stretched gauze across a silver funnel and now he lights a candle to place behind the flow of wine as he pours. Mrs Hughes is watching him.
    MRS HUGHES: They’ve all gone then?
    CARSON: They have, thank the Lord.
    MRS HUGHES: What about the lawyer?
    CARSON: He was the first away. Didn’t even stay for the luncheon.
    MRS HUGHES: I wish they’d make their minds up. Gwen’s put clean sheets on the Blue Room bed. Now she’ll just have to strip it again.
    CARSON: Can’t you leave it for the next guest?
    MRS HUGHES: Only if you don’t tell.
    Which makes them both laugh.
    MRS HUGHES (CONT’D): So, has it all been settled?
    CARSON: No, I don’t know that anything’s been settled . There’s a fellow in Manchester with claims to the title, I gather. But it’s all a long way from settled.
    MRS HUGHES: You mustn’t take it personally.
    CARSON: I do take it personally, Mrs Hughes. I can’t stand by and watch our family threatened with the loss of all they hold dear.
    MRS HUGHES: They’re not ‘our’ family.
    CARSON: They’re all the family I’ve got!
    To our surprise, and hers, he’s almost shouting.
    CARSON (CONT’D): I beg your pardon.
    MRS HUGHES: Do you ever wish you’d gone another way?
    He looks at her. What does she mean? She shrugs.
    MRS HUGHES (CONT’D): Worked in a shop? Or a factory? Had a wife and children?
    CARSON: Do you?
    MRS HUGHES: I don’t know. Maybe. Sometimes. *
    There is a knock at the door and Gwen appears.
    GWEN: William’s laid tea in the library but her ladyship hasn’t come down.
    MRS HUGHES: Oh, she’ll be tired. Take a tray up to her bedroom.
    CARSON: Is Thomas back?
    GWEN: Not yet, Mr Carson.
    She goes. Carson looks at Mrs Hughes.
    CARSON: He asked to run down to the village. I didn’t see why not.
    MRS HUGHES: I suppose they do realise this is a job and not just the chance to put their feet up?
    She sighs. And so does he.
SCENE—NO DIALOGUE OF THOMAS WALKING THROUGH THE VILLAGE
----
45 INT. LIBRARY. DAY.
    Robert is alone by the fire staring into the flames, when Edith comes in, closing the door behind her.
    EDITH: Are you all right, Papa?
    ROBERT: I suppose so. If being all right is compatible with feeling terribly, terribly sad.
    EDITH: Me too.
    He opens his arms and hugs her.
    ROBERT: We loved Patrick, didn’t we?
    EDITH: Oh, Papa.
    She is crying again, quite genuinely. He pats her back.
    ROBERT: Well, well. Life goes on.
    She pulls herself together, wiping away her tears.
    EDITH: What did Mr Murray have to say?
    ROBERT: Only that I have some very difficult decisions ahead.
    EDITH: You must do what you think right.
    ROBERT: I may not have an option.
    EDITH: No, I only mean … you should do what you feel is your duty. Not just what’s best for Mary.
    He looks at her. She realises how bald her statement was.
    EDITH (CONT’D): Or Sybil. Or me. We’ll manage.
    ROBERT: Of course you will.
    But she has given herself away a little, all the same.
----
46 INT. CORA’S BEDROOM.