wee_mango | 'Downton Abbey', Episode 1 (Reply)

April 1912. As John Bates catches the early morning train to Downton, news of the sinking of the Titanic slowly spreads through the Grantham household, both upstairs and downstairs. Robert, Earl of Grantham and owner of Downton Abbey finds himself without an heir as he and American wife Cora have no sons, only 3 daughters (Mary, Edith and Sybil) and his nearest male relatives (cousin James Crawley and his son Patrick), having been on the ship, are almost certainly dead. As their eldest daughter Mary was due to marry Patrick, they accept that the only male relative Robert has left is a third cousin living in Manchester working as a lawyer. There is also an entail on the estate which means that the heir to the title will inherit the land and all the money that Robert gained by marrying Cora. Now the land and wealth could no longer stay within the family.

Bates' arrival as new valet causes concern for head butler Carson as he cannot walk without the aid of a stick, but he insists that he is able to carry out the work required. First footman Thomas reluctantly shows Bates his room and what he'll be doing; he wanted the job but was passed over for Bates as Robert already knows him from their time during the Boer war, news which stuns the rest of the staff.

- Thomas: (on Bates taking over the job as valet) "I can't believe I've been passed over for Long John Silver."
LOL.

Daisy!! The poisonous stuff!! Where's that going to go?! *flails*

Thomas and Sarah O'Brien, Cora's lady's maid plot to get rid of Bates, both telling lies to Carson and Cora that he isn't up to the job and is causing awkwardness downstairs. The Crawleys go into mourning and Robert's mother Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, voices her concern about cutting Mary out of what should be hers. Cora and Robert invite the young Duke of Crowborough to visit, trying to match him up with Mary, however the Duke seems less interested in Mary than in prying in the servants' rooms.

- (In the courtyard.)
Thomas: "I wanted that job. We were alright together; his Lordship and me."
O'Brien: "Then be sure to get your foot in the door when Bates is gone."
Thomas: "Can't get rid of him just 'cause he talks behind our backs."
O'Brien: "There's more than one way to skin a cat..."
OMG these two are awful and we're only into the first episode; looks like more scheming ahead...

Mary's gown. ♥

- Thomas: "I just think you should know it's not working, Mr Carson."
Carson: "Do you mean Mr Bates is lazy?"
Thomas: "Not lazy exactly, but he just can't carry. He can hardly manage his Lordship's cases. You saw how it was when he went up to London for the memorial. He can't help with the guest luggage neither and as for waiting a table, we can forget that."
Carson: "What do you want me to do?"
Thomas: "It's not for me to say but is it fair on William to have all the extra work? I don't believe you'd like to think the house was falling below the way things ought to be..."
Carson: "I would not."
Thomas: "That's all I'm saying."
Thomas really has it in for Bates. >:(

- Bates: (on being told he is to leave Downton Abbey the following morning) "I miss a lot of things but you've got to keep moving don't you?"

- Violet: (regarding Mary) "No one wants to kiss a girl in black."
LMAO Violet is going to get the best lines I reckon. ;)

Cora and Carson finally convince Robert that Bates is unsuitable for the job, made worse by O'Brien kicking Bates and causing him to fall infront of the servants and family when the Duke arrived. Robert reluctantly breaks the bad news to Bates that he will leave the following morning, with Bates expressing the fact that he may not be able to find another position due to his bad leg.

- OMG that was totally uncalled for. What a bitch O'Brien is, kicking poor Bates's bad leg out like that; what exactly is she going to gain out of it if she & Thomas successfully have Bates sacked? >:|

- Bates: (to Anna helping him up) "Please, don't feel sorry for me."
:(

- Robert: "It's a bloody business Bates but I can't see anyway around it."
No Robert don't get rid of him! D: ;___;

Anna: "I'm ever so sorry you're going."
Bates: "I'll be alright."
Anna: "Of course you will. There's always a place for a man like you."
Bates: "Oh yes. Something'll turn up."
Anna: "Tell us, when you're fixed, just drop us a line, 'else I'll worry."
Bates: (smiling) "Well, we can't have that."
(closes door)
♥♥♥

The Duke's true colours show when he learns that Robert does not intend to fight the entail and Robert is not happy that he has messed them all about. It is revealed that the Duke had a relationship with Thomas who informed him about the possibility that Mary would now inherit, hoping to get a job as valet in return. Since the Duke cannot offer him the job Thomas tries to blackmail him but he reveals that he managed to retrieve his love letters that Thomas had kept and quickly burns them before Thomas can stop him. Knowing he has nothing on the Duke now that the evidence has been destroyed, Thomas leaves.

The Duke and Bates depart the next morning with Robert, Carson, Thomas and Cora seeing them off. As the car starts to leave the estate, Robert has a change of heart and stops it, telling Bates to forget about leaving and to return inside. Carson looks slightly outraged at the change but Robert knows it wasn't right to let Bates go like that.

- Robert: "Get back inside and we'll say no more about it."
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY. \o/ :D

In Manchester, Matthew Crawley, now Robert's heir, and his widowed mother Isobel receive news from Robert, inviting them to Downton.

Ep 1 synopsis

Anyone else watching this wonderful series? :D