Matthew (Dan Stevens) and Mary (Michelle Dockery) argue over Matthew pulling his weight over the running of Downton. Anna hasn't seen Bates as she tells Matthew and she hopes to see him soon or receive word from him. Isobel (Penelope Wilton) has a letter for Mrs Hughes (Phylliss Logan) from Ethel (Amy Nuttall). She wants her to arrange a meeting with her son's grandparents, the Bryants as she wants to give Charlie up. She won't let anyone to help her. Matthew has only invested in Downton as he explains to Carson and he still answers to Robert (Hugh Bonneville). They need new help. A maid, footman, Matthew asks if he really needs one as things have changed after the war. The archbishop is coming to dinner.
Edith (Laura Carmichael) doesn't have breakfast in bed since she's not married. Robert mentions the American women having the vote and Edith says she doesn't. Matthew suggests she should write to The Times. The Archbishop, or "prince of the church" as Robert describes him is to be seated next to the Dowager (Maggie Smith). O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) asks if the footman will be second footman and Thomas (Rob James-Collier) wants him to get someone to represent the house and maintain standards. Which is aimed at Albert (Matt Milne).
Mary has taken over the nursery as a sitting room and Matthew thinks it may have been about a baby. Apparently she's not keen on having children for a long while yet. Which he is disappointed over. Was Mary hiding something from him as she just fobs it off as needing something for her hayfever. That's the first we've heard about Mary getting hayfever, which hasn't troubled her all those times she was out to garden parties, especially at the end of season 1. The Dowager owes Edith a guinea for a bottle of perfume and she asks if the seller had "a mask and a gun." Edith is at a loose end.
Carson helps Albert out with cutlery placements and what they are used for. Thomas didn't ask him for help but Albert did. Mrs Bird (Christine Lohr) treats Ethel like a scarlet woman, only worse, thinking herself above her. It's not "part of her duties to wait on the likes of her."
Robert says there's "something Johnny Foreigner about Catholics." Edith is called by Sybil who tells her she's not been stopped and is out of the flat. Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) is worried about her being stooped from doing what? The Dowager asks if the war has driven people to the church.
Troubles abound in Ireland as Branson (Allen Leech) goes on the run from the police and Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) is made to make her own way to Downton. He turns up in the rain in the middle of the dinner and everyone is angry at him for abandoning Sybil; who agreed to this plan anyway. Robert in particular is disappointed as he thinks Branson is only looking out for himself. He tells them about the rich family being turned out of their castle home and it being set on fire. It finally drew on him that they were still human even if they were wealthy. Yet he doesn't want to give up his connections with Ireland. He even wants to return there. Robert: "other families have normal sons-in-law."
News reaches downstairs and gossip abounds. As Thomas says there'll be no more gossip on that tonight as Carson takes the tray to Branson. The Dowager comments on the hideousness of the castle. He's suspected as being an instigator. He wouldn't get a fair hearing in Ireland. Cora says so he gave them Sybil. Cora urges Robert to see the Home Secretary. Branson sees the horror in those places, the Dowager adds it was a "jungle castle" and she agrees. He was sorry at the burning. Robert is beside himself with anger. It is understandable, she's about to have his baby and he leaves her to fend for herself in what is a 'foreign' land for her. Saving his own bacon. Then saying he's ready to face the consequences if she doesn't get away as an afterthought.
Robert: "what a harsh world you live in."
Branson: "We all live in a harsh world...the difference is I know I do."
Bryant (Kevin R McNally) is still terrible to Ethel but she knows he loves Charlie and she agrees to give him up. Mary tells Carson to go ahead and hire the "more handsome" footman. Mary thinks Albert looks like a rescued puppy. Matthew laughs at Carson's remark of Albert being O'Brien's nephew. Matthew: "nothing worse could be said of any man."
Ethel says farewell to her son in an emotional scene which would have many in tears before Bryant comes and drags him away. Bates sets up his cellmate, Craig in the same way he did to Bates and gets his letters as he's no longer out of favour. James (Ed Speelers) as Carson wants him to be called, wants to come to Thomas if he needs help and Thomas of course becomes to be attracted to him.
Sybil arrives and Robert was able to pull strings with Branson having to stay here otherwise he'll be arrested if he returns. But he's adamant he can't stay away. Sybil wants him to since their baby needs to be safe. He's set in his ways but he knew when he married Sybil he would have to compromise, yet he still wants things his way. He can't compromise his principles. He attended meetings where the violence was planned. Which he kept from Sybil. Branson was against violence. Lady Gregory Countess Markivicz, the revolutionary, whom the Dowager beings up after Robert mentions Sybil will be likened to her. Irish people are so well born. He is grateful for his freedom. Robert is certain he only says that to stay on Sybil's good side.
Daisy (Sophie McShera) tries to tell Albert her feelings but she's interrupted by the arrival of the new maid, Ivy (Cara Theobold) who catches Albert's eye; prompting Daisy to be horrible towards her.
Matthew confides in the Dowager at Downton being run badly and he needs her help with the mismanagement. He put his fortune into Downton so it's his duty to fix it. The Dowager knows: "...many noses will be out of joint." But he must do what he must. Edith's letter gets published which Robert doesn't like and neither does Carson. Secretly Robert looked like he was proud over the letter.
Mrs Hughes appeared to be judging Ethel for what she has become rather than her predicament with Charlie, in the same way Mrs Bird turned her nose up at her. Yet she of all people, even more so than Isobel should understand what she's going through, especially since she was the one helping her last series. Mrs Hughes is quite snobbish in that respect. Perhaps the toaster she bought should have kept her preoccupied instead of getting involved with Ethel.
As for Branson, his position is understandable, he wants better for his home country, which the Crawleys just don't understand as they live their lives away from the real world. They only read about things in papers, not get their hands dirty, or get involved firsthand in events they don't really care about. Such as saving Downton being more important to Mary, than Matthew's feelings. Branson was born into a different world and they expect him to tow the Crawley line now that he is married to Sybil, without realizing his conflicts and resolving them to please all, just aren't that simple.
The Dowager wanted Edith to be talked out of her marriage and this week she urges Edith to stop whining and do something, as she has reasonable talent and a brain. Countess Markievicz is known for her leadership role in the Easter Rebellion of 1916 in Ireland. Making personal sacrifices for Ireland's freedom.
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