Downton Abbey S01E01 - script (1/4)

1

Oh, my God.

2

That's impossible.

3

- I'll take it up there now.

- Don't be stupid.

4

None of them will be up for hours.

What difference will it make?

5

Jimmy will do it when he comes in.

6

Six o'clock!

7

Thank you, Daisy.

8

Anna.

9

Just for once in my life I'd like to sleep

until I woke up natural.

10

- Is your fire still in?

- Yes, Mrs Patmore.

11

Oh, my, my, will wonders never cease?

12

- Have you laid the servant's hall breakfast?

- Yes, Mrs Patmore.

13

- And finished blacking that stove?

- Yes, Mrs Patmore.

14

- What about the bedroom fires?

- All lit, Mrs Patmore.

15

Right, well, take your things and get

started on the fires on the ground floor.

16

Now, hurry up.

17

Any sign of William? No.

18

- Where have you been?

- I'm not late, am I?

19

You're late when I say you're late.

20

Daisy, whatever are you doing there,

crouching in the dark?

21

You weren't here and I didn't like to

touch the curtains with me dirty hands.

22

Well, quite right, too.

23

- Why didn't you put the lights on?

- I daren't.

24

Well, it's electricity

and not the devil's handiwork.

25

You'll have to get used

to it sooner or later.

26

At Skelton Park,

they've even got it in the kitchens.

27

What for?

28

Yes, Mrs Patmore.

29

- Breakfast is ready, Mr Carson.

- Ah, William, any papers yet?

30

- They're late.

- They certainly are.

31

Get the board out

so you can do them as soon as they're here.

32

- Is the library tidy?

- Yes, Mrs Hughes.

33

Good. I want the dining room given

a proper going over today.

34

You can do it

when they've finished their breakfast.

35

Oh, heavens, girl!

36

You're building a fire, not inventing it.

37

- How many have you done?

- This is me last till they come downstairs.

38

Very well.

39

Now, get back down to the kitchens

before anyone sees you.

40

- And they're off.

- No rest for the wicked.

41

- Lady Mary. Are the tea trays ready?

- All ready, Mrs Patmore.

42

If the water's boiled.

43

Could you give us a hand

to take the other two up?

44

I've got her ladyship's to carry.

45

- I'll help.

- Back door.

46

The papers, at last. William!

47

- You're late.

- Yeah, I know, but...

48

- But what?

- You'll see.

49

Do The Times first,

he only reads that at breakfast.

50

And the Sketch for her ladyship.

51

You can manage the others

later, if need be.

52

- Why are their papers ironed?

- What's it to you?

53

To dry the ink, silly.

54

We wouldn't want his lordship's hands

to be as black as yours.

55

Mr Carson, I think you ought to see this.

56

I can't make myself believe it.

Me neither.

57

- His lordship's dressed.

- William!

58

Will you stop talking

and take this kedgeree up.             (Kedgeree =  prato indiano)

59

- And mind the burners are still lit.

- Yes, Mrs Patmore.

60

- Is it really true?

- Afraid so.

61

Nothing in life is sure.

62

- Good morning, Carson.

- Good morning, my lord.

63

- Is it true what they're saying?

- I believe so, my lord.

64

I'm afraid we'll know some people on it.

65

I don't suppose there are any lists

of survivors yet?

66

I understand most of the ladies

were taken off in time.

67

You mean the ladies in first class?

68

God help the poor devils below decks.

69

On their way to a better life.

70

What a tragedy.

71

When Anna told me,

I thought she must have dreamt it.

72

Do we know anyone on board?

73

Your mother knows the Astors,

at least she knows him.

74

We dined with Lady Rothes last month.

75

There are bound to be others.

76

I thought it was supposed to be unsinkable.

77

Every mountain is unclimbable

until someone climbs it,

78

so every ship is unsinkable until it sinks.

79

- Good morning, Papa.

- Good morning. What's that?

80

Just arrived. Telegram.

81

- Is her ladyship awake?

- Yes, my lord.

82

- I'm just going to take in her breakfast.

- Thank you.

83

Hello.

84

May I come in?

85

Isn't this terrible?

86

When you think how excited

Lucy Rothes was at the prospect.

87

It's too awful for any words.

88

Did J.J. Astor get off?

89

Of course that new wife of his

is bound to have been rescued.

90

I've had a telegram from George Murray.

91

- One of his partners is in New York.

- Yes?

92

It seems James and Patrick were on board.

93

What? They can't have been.

They weren't going over until May.

94

Then they changed their plans.

They're definitely on the passenger list.

95

Thank you, O'Brien.

That'll be all for the moment.

96

But surely they were picked up?

97

- Doesn't look like it.

- What?

98

Neither of them?

99

You must tell Mary.

100

She can't hear about it from anyone else.

101

Neither of them were picked up,

that's what he said.

102

- Mr Crawley and Mr Patrick?

- That's what he said.

103

Her ladyship was the colour of this cloth.

104

Well, it's a terrible shame if it's true.

105

It's worse than a shame,

it's a complication.

106

- What do you mean?

- What do you think?

107

Mr Crawley was his lordship's cousin

and heir to the title.

108

I thought Lady Mary was the heir.

109

She's a girl, stupid. Girls can't inherit.

110

But now Mr Crawley's dead

and Mr Patrick was his only son.

111

So, what happens next?

It's a dreadful thing.

112

Hello.

113

I've been waiting at the back door.

I knocked, but no one came.

114

So you pushed in?

115

I'm John Bates, the new valet.

116

- The new valet?

- That's right.

117

- You're early.

- Came on the milk train.

118

Thought I'd use the day

to get to know the place, start tonight.

119

I'm Anna, the head housemaid.

120

How do you do?

121

And I'm Miss O'Brien, her ladyship's maid.

122

You better come along with us.

123

- But how can you manage?

- Don't worry about that, I can manage.

124

- Because we've all got our own work to do.

- I can manage.

125

All right, Mrs Hughes, I'll take over.

Thank you.

126

Good morning, Mr Bates. Welcome.

127

- I hope your journey was satisfactory.

- It was fine. Thank you.

128

I am the butler of Downton.

My name is Carson.

129

How do you do, Mr Carson?

130

This is Thomas, first footman.

131

He's been looking after his lordship

since Mr Watson left.

132

It'll be a relief to get back to normal,

won't it, Thomas?

133

I assume that everything is ready

for Mr Bates' arrival?

134

I've put him in Mr Watson's old room.

135

Though he left it in quite a state,

I can tell you.

136

But what about all them stairs?

137

- I keep telling you, I can manage.

- Of course you can.

138

Thomas, take Mr Bates to his room,

show him where he'll be working.

139

Thank you, everyone.

140

- Well, I can't see that lasting long.

- Thank you, Miss O'Brien.

141

Oh, yes.

142

I should be comfortable here.

143

Does this mean I'll have to

go into full mourning?

144

My first cousin and his son

are almost certainly dead.

145

- We'll all be in mourning.

- No, I mean with the other thing.

146

After all, it wasn't official.

147

If you're saying you do not wish to mourn

Patrick as a fiance, that is up to you.

148

Well, no one knew about it

outside the family.

149

I repeat, it is up to you.

150

Well, that's a relief.

151

There's some cedar-lined cupboards

in the attic

152

for things that aren't often worn,

travelling clothes and such.

153

Mr Watson used them to

rotate the summer and winter stuff.

154

I'll show you later.

155

What about studs and links?

Do I choose them or does he?

156

Lay them out unless he asks

for something in particular.

157

These for a ball, these for an

ordinary dinner, these only in London.

158

- I'll get the hang of it.

- Yeah, you'll have to.

159

Snuff boxes, he collects them.

160

Beautiful.

161

- Funny ourjob, isn't it?

- What do you mean?

162

The way we live with all this

pirate's hoard within our reach.

163

But none of it's ours, is it?

164

No, none of it's ours.

165

I can't believe I've been passed over

for Long John Silver.

166

You should have spoken up

when you had the chance.

167

Don't make the same mistake next time.

168

Who says there'll be a next time?

169

Is this a public holiday

no one's told me of?

170

She was certainly reluctant

to go into mourning.

171

Well, she'll have to. We all will.

172

O'Brien's sorting out my black now.

173

And I've told Anna to see what

the girls have that still fits.

174

Of course, this alters everything.

175

You won't try to deny it.

176

You must challenge the entail now, surely.

177

Can't we at least wait until

we know they're dead before we discuss it?

178

Don't talk as if I'm not brokenhearted,

because I am.

179

Of course, I've never understood why

this estate must go

180

to whomever inherits your title.

181

My dear, I don't make the law. What is it?

182

The Dowager Countess is

in the drawing room.

183

- I'll come now.

- She asked for Lady Grantham.

184

I wonder what I've done wrong this time.

185

Oh. And the new valet has arrived, my lord.

186

Has he? Thank you, Carson.

187

What is it?

188

I'm not entirely sure

that he'll prove equal to the task.

189

But your lordship will

be the judge of that.

190

Better go.

191

Tell her about James and Patrick.

She won't have heard.

192

Of course I've heard.

Why else would I be here?

193

Robert didn't want you to read about it

in the newspaper and be upset.

194

He flatters me.

195

I'm tougher than I look.

196

I'm very sorry about

poor Patrick, of course.

197

- He was a nice boy.

- We were all so fond of him.

198

But I never cared for James.

199

He was too like his mother

and a nastier woman never drew breath.

200

- Will you stay for some luncheon?

- Thank you.