The officers are arriving in Downton, unsettling the shellshocked footman, Lang, and driving a wedge between the three matriarchs of the household: Isobel, the Countess of Grantham and the Dowager Countess.
The young women of Downton are in yet more trouble breaking the hearts of other people and themselves. Branson still holds a flame for Lady Sybil but is deeply offended when she presumes to belittle the Irish civil insurrection, Ethel Parks is being hounded by the officers for her attentions, Anna Smith is so desperate to see Mr Bates that she puts her honour on the line and Mary is deeply divided by her conscience and her love for Matthew.
The Major is visiting to check on the progress of the hospital and Downton is a flutter, none more so than Mr Lang who is afraid that he will be made to go back to the front lines. In a turn-up for the books, Lady Edith Crawley saves the day with some uncharacteristic thoughtfulness and hard work.
The battle over authority in the household intensifies, O’Brien whispers in the ear of the Countess of Grantham that Thomas could be used as a puppet to subvert the authority of Isobel. Little does the Countess know that O’Brien caused her miscarriage and that Thomas is a thief. The Earl of Grantham and Carson both know of his bad behaviour and bristle at his new found authority.
Downton Abbey episode 3, series 2, airs on ITV 2nd October 2011 at 9pm for UK audiences only.
Table of Contents
Cast
- Lady Rosamund Painswick played by Samantha Bond
- Earl of Grantham, Robert played by Hugh Bonneville
- Lavinia Swire played by Zoe Boyle
- Lady Sybil Crawley played by Jessica Brown Findlay
- Lady Edith Crawley played by Laura Carmichael
- Mr Carson played by Jim Carter
- John Bates played by Brendan Coyle
- Lady Mary Crawley played by Michelle Dockery
- Molesley played by Kevin Doyle
- Vera Bates played by Maria Doyle Kennedy
- Sarah O’Brien played by Siobhan Finneran
- Anna Smith played by Joanne Froggatt
- William Mason played by Thomas Howes
- Thomas Barrow played by Rob James-Collier
- Tom Branson played by Allen Leech
- Mrs Hughes played by Phyllis Logan
- Andrew Lang played by Cal Macaninch
- Countess of Grantham, Cora played by Elizabeth McGovern
- Daisy Robinson played by Sophie McShera
- Mrs Patmore played by Lesley Nicol
- Ethel Parks played by Amy Nuttall
- Doctor Clarkson played by David Robb
- Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet played by Maggie Smith
- Matthew Crawley played by Dan Stevens
- Isobel Crawley played by Penelope Wilton
Crew
Written and created by Julian Fellowes
Executive Producers: Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes
Producer: Liz Trubridge
Line Producer: Charles Hubbard
Director: Ashley Pearce
