TEXT: [OPENING CREDITS] [SCENE_BREAK] [EXT. DOWNTON ABBEY, FRONT DOOR - MORNING] [SCENE_BREAK] [Edith watches an army hospital truck leave.] [SCENE_BREAK] [Mrs Hughes joins Edith.] Lady Edith: That's the last of the equipment gone. Mrs Hughes: The maids have put the drawing room back to normal. [The dog follows Robert around the house.] [SCENE_BREAK] [INT. DRAWING ROOM - MORNING] Robert, Earl of Grantham: I'm walking down to the village. I want to have a word with Travis. Cora, Countess of Grantham: You know that Richard will be here any moment. Robert, Earl of Grantham: That's why I'm telling you. Give him my excuses, I'll see him at dinner. Cora, Countess of Grantham: Is there any news on the Bates situation? Robert, Earl of Grantham: Not that I'm aware of. Cora, Countess of Grantham: So, you still want to keep him on? Robert, Earl of Grantham: Cora, Bates's wife has committed suicide. It's very sad, of course, but not, when I last looked, a reason to sack him. Cora, Countess of Grantham: They've taken the rest of the beds. Robert, Earl of Grantham: So, that's the finish of it. Cora, Countess of Grantham: Not quite. We still have Matthew. And I wanted to ask you, isn't it time he went home? Robert, Earl of Grantham: I see. You want to throw him out. Cora, Countess of Grantham: Robert! I want him to learn to be as independent as he can, and I want Mary to get on with her life. What's wrong with that? Robert, Earl of Grantham: Is there something you're not telling me? Cora, Countess of Grantham: What do you mean? Robert, Earl of Grantham
SUMMARY:
Early February 1919. Matthew begins to feel his legs. Matthew announces that he and Lavinia intend to marry soon. Violet tells him that Mary is still in love with him, but Matthew feels obliged to marry Lavinia. Sir Richard Carlisle distresses Anna by asking her to spy on Mary; his behaviour leads Carson to reject his offer of employment. Bates realises that Vera committed suicide in order to frame him. When Major Bryant's parents visit Downton to see where their son convalesced, Mrs Hughes contrives a meeting between them and Ethel and her baby. However, Mr Bryant angrily refuses to believe her claim. Thomas embarks on a new money-making scheme in the post-war black market. Lord Grantham is attracted to the new maid, Jane, and kisses her. Lady Sybil makes the drastic decision to elope with Branson. However, Mary discovers her plan and, along with Edith and Anna, seeks them out and persuades Sybil to return and plead her cause openly to their parents.