DOWNTON ABBEY {SEASON 2, EPISODE 3} (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic British series about the aristocrats and servants who dwell at the Downton Abbey estate in post-Edwardian Yorkshire.
In this episode, in July 1917, the Crawley family has a variety of reactions as Downton is transformed into a convalescent home, with Violet alarmed at the idea of "mixing ranks" and the servants somewhat confused about the new chain of command. Violet resolves to unearth the mystery of Lavinia and Richard's encounter, and Daisy frets that William, set for a brief visit before heading off to war, is likely to propose to her. Anna is shocked to glimpse Mr. Bates in the village as Sybil urges Edith, still smarting from the incident with the Drakes, to "find her talent." Miss O'Brien tries to arrange for Thomas to be placed in charge of the "new" Downton, and Mary offers to enlist Richard to look into Mr. Bates' mysterious reappearance. Tom vows to be a conscientious objector if called up, and when a traumatized Henry tries to describe the soldiers' deep sense of fear, Mrs. Patmore confides in him about her nephew's fate. Thomas, amused at the thought of bossing Mr. Carson around, wonders why Miss O'Brien is so determined to help Cora overrule Isobel, but Miss O'Brien opts not to reveal the story of the soap incident.
Dr, Clarkson agrees to have Corporal Barrow promoted to "acting Sergeant," though Mr. Carson and Robert are both annoyed at the thought of answering to Thomas, known to be a thief. Tom updates the others on news from Russia, confident that Tsar Nicholas II's imprisonment with his entire family will end peacefully and lead to positive changes, though everyone is stunned when Henry abruptly tells everyone about Mrs. Patmore's nephew's cowardice charge. A smug Thomas returns to Downton as the wounded soldiers begin to arrive, and Ethel immediately notices handsome Major Bryant. Mary is relieved when Matthew appears, though their respective mothers continue butting heads, particularly when Isobel tries to object to breaking protocol so that family friend Evelyn Napier can convalesce in their home. Sybil is bewildered when Tom is angered to be rejected from the army because of a heart murmur, and Violet and Rosamund, still determined to "remove" Lavinia, tell Mary that Lavinia was in fact responsible for the Marconi scandal of 1912, having sold her father's trade secrets to her presumed lover, Richard, for publishing.
Anna learns that Mr. Bates has taken a job at a pub in town and finally visits him, whereupon he tells her that he has proof of Vera's infidelity – legally more significant than his own – and can now force her to accept a divorce. Anna offers to be his "mistress" in the meantime, but he vows to marry her properly as soon as possible. Edith begins bonding with the individual soldiers, and Tom offers to replace the two missing footmen at the dinner table upon learning that a famed general, Sir Herbert Strutt, is coming for a formal inspection of Downton. Miss O'Brien again demonstrates unusual kindness when Henry suffers terrifying nightmares of his time at war, and Matthew soon arrives with Sir Strutt and Lavinia. Noticing Rosamund's vindictive attitude, Lavinia privately confesses to Mary that she did indeed cause the scandal, but acted solely out of a desire to rescue her father from debt, not because of any entanglement with Richard. Mrs. Hughes comforts a distraught Mrs. Patmore as they prepare to bid farewell to William, and upon finding a grimly suggestive note to Sybil, Mr. Carson springs into action and stops Tom from "murdering" Sir Strutt – but then finds that he only intended to humiliate him to make his political point.
Dr. Clarkson finally brings the tension to an end by announcing that Isobel and Cora are both equally in charge of Downton's operations, and he praises Edith for her kind solicitousness towards the soldiers. Daisy gives William the requested photo of herself, and at Mrs. Patmore's stern urging, accepts his marriage proposal. Mary opts not to share Lavinia's secret with Matthew, and Robert tries to arrange for William, an only child, to work as Matthew's servant, thus hopefully keeping him out of harm's way. Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes decide not to punish Tom for his would-be prank, and Henry sadly packs his belongings and departs, having realized that he is not in a fit emotional state to work as a servant. Daisy is embarrassed when William proudly announces their engagement, and Robert and Cora wistfully discuss Mary and Matthew's obvious bond, concluding that they must accept how things have changed.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 137396
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBTQ+ Collection - Drama; Drama, historical; World War I; England
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 2011-2016
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gareth Neame … Executive Producer
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Julian Fellowes … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Liz Trubridge … Producer
- Charles Hubbard … Line Producer
- Andy Goddard … Director
- John Lunn … Music by
- Man Made Music … Theme Music by
- Hugh Bonneville … Cast, Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
- Jessica Brown Findlay … Cast, Lady Sybil Crawley
- Laura Carmichael … Cast, Lady Edith Crawley
- Jim Carter … Cast, Mr. Charles Carson
- Brendan Coyle … Cast, John Bates
- Michelle Dockery … Cast, Lady Mary Crawley
- Siobhan Finneran … Cast, Sarah O'Brien
- Joanne Froggatt … Cast, Anna Smith
- Thomas Howes … Cast, William Mason
- Rob James-Collier … Cast, Thomas Barrow
- Phyllis Logan … Cast, Mrs. Elsie Hughes
- Elizabeth McGovern … Cast, Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
- Sophie McShera … Cast, Daisy Mason
- Lesley Nicol … Cast, Mrs. Bethel Patmore
- Amy Nuttall … Cast, Ethel Parks
- Maggie Smith … Cast, Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
- Dan Stevens … Cast, Matthew Crawley
- Penelope Wilton … Cast, Isobel Crawley
- Samantha Bond … Cast, Lady Rosamund Painswick
- Zoe Boyle … Cast, Lavinia Swire
- Tom Feary-Campbell … Cast, Captain Smiley
- Allen Leech … Cast, Tom Branson
- Cal MacAninch … Cast, Henry Lang
- Graham Padden … Cast, Army Doctor
- Daniel Pirrie … Cast, Major Charles Bryant
- David Robb … Cast, Dr. Richard Clarkson
- Julian Wadham … Cast, General Sir Herbert Strutt
- Tsar Nicholas II