DOWNTON ABBEY {SEASON 2, EPISODE 7} (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 1919, Downton returns to "normal" as the final hospital supplies are removed, and Thomas takes advantage of the transition by moving ahead with his black-market plans to sell rationed goods. Mr. Bates and Robert discuss Vera's apparent suicide via poison, and Anna uncomfortably rejects Sir Richard's offer to spy on Mary for him, ostensibly for the purpose of learning her tastes and habits. Violet expresses relief at a return to pre-war conditions, though a restless Sybil seems discontent with her former life of indolent luxury. Mrs. Hughes notes her disappointment that Mr. Carson has chosen to follow "uppity minx" Mary to her new home in Haxby Park, and Matthew asks fellow war vet Mr. Bates if the tingling in his legs could possibly be a good sign.
Mrs. Hughes offers to arrange a meeting between Ethel and her son's grandparents, the Bryants, who are coming to Downton for a luncheon, though warns her not to expect a warm greeting. Sybil hints to Edith about her "drastic" plans for a different future, and Mr. Carson, having learned of Richard's impudent request from Anna, informs an indignant Mary that he won't come with her to Haxby after all. Robert, feeling conflicted by all the upheaval, impulsively kisses new housemaid Jane, and everyone is stunned and delighted when Matthew, trying to help Lavinia with a heavy tray, instinctively stands up from his wheelchair. Dr. Clarkson concludes that he is suffering from spinal shock, not a complete vertebral severance, as previously thought, and will likely go on to make a full recovery. Over dinner, Matthew praises Lavinia's unswerving devotion to him and requests to hold their wedding at Downton, which quietly devastates Mary. Mr. Bates gradually realizes that he himself bought the rat poison with which Vera ended her life, and Sybil finally declares that she is ready to throw off her old life and be with Tom.
Robert is surprised when Cora voices her discomfort with Matthew and Lavinia's happy plans, and when the Bryants arrive, Mrs. Hughes quickly realizes that they will not be receptive to meeting their son's illegitimate child after all. Ethel, however, desperately barges into the dining room with little Charlie, but Mr. Bryant coldly refuses to accept her claim. The family debates her predicament, with Mary sadly noting that one must live with one's irreversible choices. Mrs. Patmore and Daisy buy wedding-cake supplies from Thomas' questionable secret stash, and Violet confronts Matthew with the undeniable fact that Mary still loves him. He points out that he can't simply jilt the loyal and good-hearted Lavinia because of his recovery. Mary questions Richard about his scheme with Anna, though denies any lingering feelings for her ex-fiancé; Mr. Bates discovers that Vera wrote a letter noting her fear of her estranged husband shortly before her death. Mary and Edith are stunned to find that Sybil has eloped with Tom, but they quickly track down the pair and plead with their sister to at least tell their parents of her choice face-to-face to soften the blow. Robert assures an embarrassed Jane that she should not resign because of his mistake, and Thomas is crushed to learn that he's been tricked into buying useless, inedible goods and is now penniless. Isobel finds that Matthew is still holding onto Mary's wartime good-luck charm, suggesting that he, too, is uncertain about their future.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:53:15
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 137400
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Romance; England
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 2011-2016
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Gareth Neame … Executive Producer
- Julian Fellowes … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Liz Trubridge … Producer
- Charles Hubbard … Line Producer
- James Strong … Director
- Laura Linney … Host
- 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 Bates
- 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
- Zoe Boyle … Cast, Lavinia Swire
- Clare Calbraith … Cast, Jane Moorsum
- Iain Glen … Cast, Sir Richard Carlisle
- Allen Leech … Cast, Tom Branson
- Kevin R. McNally … Cast, Mr. Bryant
- Christine Mackie … Cast, Mrs. Bryant
- David Robb … Cast, Dr. Richard Clarkson