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    She smiles at him, shielding her eyes with a fan.
    VIOLET: Such a glare. I feel as if I were on stage at the Gaiety.
    ROBERT: We’re used to it. I do wish you’d let me install it in the Dower House. It’s very convenient. The man who manages the generator could look after yours as well.
    VIOLET: It’s no good. I couldn’t have electricity in the house. I wouldn’t sleep a wink. All those vapours seeping about.
    ROBERT: Even Cora won’t have it in the bedrooms. She did wonder about the kitchens, but I couldn’t see the point.
    Violet listens politely. She has come with an agenda.
    VIOLET: Before anyone joins us, I’m glad of this chance for a little talk. I gather Murray was here today.
    ROBERT: News travels fast. Yes, I saw him. And he’s not optimistic that there’s anything we can do.
    VIOLET: Well, I refuse to believe it.
    ROBERT: Be that as it may, it’s a fact.
    VIOLET: But to lose Cora’s fortune, too—
    ROBERT: Really, Mama. You know as well as I do Cora’s fortune is not Cora’s fortune any more! Thanks to Papa, it’s part of the estate and the estate is entailed to my heir! That’s it! That’s all of it!
    VIOLET: Robert, I don’t mean to sound harsh—
    ROBERT: You may not mean to, but I bet you will.
    VIOLET: Twenty-four years ago you married Cora, against my wishes, for her money. Give it away now, and what was the point of your peculiar marriage in the first place?
    ROBERT: If I told you she’d made me very happy, would that stretch belief?
    VIOLET: It’s not why you chose her, above all those girls who could have filled my shoes so easily.
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    ROBERT: Marriage is like life. Things change.
    VIOLET: They haven’t changed for me.
----
    ROBERT: If you must know, when I think of my motives for pursuing Cora, I’m ashamed. There is no need to remind me of them.
    VIOLET: Don’t you care about Downton?
    ROBERT: What do you think? I have given my life to Downton. I was born here and I hope to die here. I claim no career beyond the nurture of this house and the estate. It is my third parent and my fourth child. Do I care about it? Yes. I do care!
    He is uncomfortably aware his voice has risen because they are no longer alone. The door has been opened by Thomas in the hall, and Cora enters with her daughters.
    CORA: I hope I don’t hear sounds of disagreement.
    VIOLET: Oh, is that what they call discussion in New York?
    MARY: I’m glad you’re fighting. I’m glad somebody’s putting up a fight.
    SYBIL: You’re not really fighting Granny, are you, Papa?
    ROBERT: Your grandmother only wants to do what’s right. And so do I.
    Carson is at the door.
    CARSON: Dinner is served, m’lady.
    Robert gives his arm to Violet, Cora to Mary and the other two follow as a pair.
57 INT. THE SERVANTS’ HALL. NIGHT.
    Gwen’s laying the table for the servants’ dinner. The other maids sit round, reading and sewing. Bates is reading.
    DAISY: Does anyone else keep dreaming about the Titanic ? I can’t get it out of my mind.
    GWEN: Not again. Give it a rest.
    ANNA: Daisy, it’s been three months. It’s time to let it go.
    DAISY: But all them people, freezing to death in the midnight, icy water.
    O’BRIEN: Oh, you sound like a penny dreadful.
    GWEN: I expect you saw worse things in South Africa. Eh, Mr Bates?
    BATES: Not worse. But pretty bad.
    DAISY: Did you enjoy the war?
    BATES: I don’t think anyone enjoys war. But there are good memories, too.
    ANNA: I’m sure there are.
    GWEN: Mr Bates, would you hand me that tray?
    She has spoken quite innocently as Bates is right by a tray of forks. He stands and picks it up but as he takes a step towards Gwen he stumbles and the tray falls with a clatter.
    BATES: Blast.
    ANNA: I’ll do it.
    She stoops and gathers the forks in no time. But O’Brien watches his humiliation with a wry expression.
----
    O’BRIEN: I expect