Anna: Oh, he was Lord Grantham's batman when he was fighting the Boers. Had a wife and children? Imagine that! It does seem odd that my third cousin should be a doctor. Matthew Crawley: It's from Lord Grantham. Mr Bates: I'm John Bates, the new valet. Mr Crawley was His Lordship's cousin and heir to the title. Thomas: In the village. Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: So, the young Duke of Crowborough is asking himself to stay. [Mary stands awkwardly in the corridor and the duke closes the footman's bedroom door as Bates steps out of his room into the corridor.] [The family heads inside.] [The men rise as the women exit in order of age.]
Plan: A: News; Q: What arrives in April 1912? A: Downton Abbey; Q: What is the name of the show? A: the RMS Titanic disaster; Q: What disaster did James Crawley and his son die in? A: John Bates; Q: Who does Lord Grantham hire as his valet? A: September; Q: In what month does the family receive a visit from the Duke of Crowborough? A: Mary; Q: Who did the family think the Duke of Crowborough was interested in marrying? A: Thomas; Q: Who was the footman that had a romantic relationship with the Duke? A: Matthew Crawley; Q: Who is the new heir? A: a distant third cousin; Q: What is Matthew Crawley to the Grantham family? Summary: April 1912. News arrives that threatens the future of Downton Abbey. Lord Grantham's cousin James Crawley, heir presumptive to the earldom , and his son Patrick have died in the RMS Titanic disaster. Meanwhile, Lord Grantham hires his former batman , John Bates as his valet. In September the family receives the visit of the young Duke of Crowborough. The family thought he was interested in marrying Mary. It is revealed that the Duke once had a romantic relationship with Thomas, the footman. Matthew Crawley, a distant third cousin, learns of his good fortune as the new heir.