Read Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 for Free Online Page B

there was no more to it than that.
----
    With a look of pity, Violet hands the letter back.
    VIOLET: Well, give him a date for when Mary’s out of mourning. No one wants to kiss a girl in black.
    She knows her business, this one.
63 INT. MARY’S BEDROOM. DAY.
    The screen is filled with the image of Mary, in ravishing shades of pink and mauve and lilac.
    EDITH (V.O.): Do stop admiring yourself. He’s not marrying you for your looks.
    The other two girls are with Mary who sits before a glass.
    EDITH: That’s if he wants to marry you at all.
    MARY: He will.
    SYBIL: You look beautiful.
    MARY: Thank you, Sybil, darling.
----
    Casually, she blows Sybil a kiss. Cora appears.
----
    CORA: We should go down. They’ll be back from the station any moment.
    Her daughters file out past her. But she stops Mary and removes a flower from her hair.
    CORA (CONT’D): Let’s not gild the lily, dear.
    Mary says nothing. She stops as her mother speaks again.
    CORA (CONT’D): And Mary, try to look surprised.
64 INT. SERVANTS’ HALL. DAY.
    Carson is addressing his team, who seem tidy and prepared.
    CARSON: Are you all ready? Very well. We will go out to greet them.
    DAISY: And me, Mr Carson?
    CARSON: No, Daisy. Not you. Can you manage, Mr Bates? Or would you rather wait here?
    Bates is walking out with the others. He stops patiently.
    BATES: I want to go, Mr Carson.
    CARSON: There is no obligation for the whole staff to be present.
    BATES: I’d like to be there.
    CARSON: Well, it’s certainly a great day for Downton, to welcome a duke under our roof.
    At this, O’Brien rolls her eyes at Thomas. But he is taken up. He mutters to his underling, William.
    THOMAS: Remember to help me with the luggage. Don’t go running off.
    BATES: I’ll give you a hand.
    THOMAS: Oh, I couldn’t ask that, Mr Bates, not in your condition.
    This sentence poses as care but it is of course an insult. Bates moves off. Thomas turns to Carson.
    THOMAS (CONT’D): How long do we have to put up with this, Mr Carson? Just so I know.
65 EXT. DOWNTON ABBEY. DAY.
    The servants file out of the kitchen court to the entrance where they form a line as the car arrives. Mrs Patmore and her staff spy from behind a screen of bushes. Cora emerges with the girls, followed by Pharaoh, who greets Robert as he gets out of the car. He’s with a most superior-looking fellow, Philip, Duke of Crowborough.
    ROBERT: Welcome to Downton.
    CROWBOROUGH: This is so kind of you, Lady Grantham.
    CORA: Not at all, Duke. I’m delighted you could spare the time. You know my daughter Mary, of course.
    CROWBOROUGH: Of course. Lady Mary.
    He gives a secret smile to Mary, who is thrilled.
    CORA: And Edith. But I don’t believe you’ve met my youngest, Sybil.
    CROWBOROUGH: Lady Sybil.
    SYBIL: How do you do.
    He has taken the girl’s hand with a slight bow and she blushes. She is really charming. And Mary intervenes.
    MARY: Come on in. You must be worn out.
    Then he remembers something and turns back to her mother.
    CROWBOROUGH: Lady Grantham, I’ve a confession to make which I hope won’t cause too much bother … My man was taken ill just as I was leaving—
    ROBERT: Oh well, that won’t be a problem, will it Carson?
    CARSON: Certainly not. I shall look after His Grace, myself.
    CROWBOROUGH: I wouldn’t dream of being such a nuisance. Surely, a footman—
    He stops and looks at Thomas.
    CROWBOROUGH (CONT’D): I remember this man. Didn’t you serve me when I dined with Lady Grantham in London?
    THOMAS: I did, Your Grace.
    Crowborough looks back smiling at Robert and Carson.
    CROWBOROUGH: There we are. We will do very well together, won’t we …?
    THOMAS: Uh, Thomas, Your Grace.
    CROWBOROUGH: Thomas.
    He turns back to Mary. The servants bow and curtsey as the guest passes them. Until O’Brien hooks Bates’s stick with her foot and he, taken unawares, falls. He knows who did it, but when he