Mary insists they should use the hall as Carson's been here for so long and it wouldn't be right. He doesn't want it in a school or anywhere else and since they don't have any family, Downton's as good a place as any! And on it went. No resolution to this since Mary decides she'll have words with Mrs Hughes and she'll deal with it. Mary the cause of yet further trouble, as Mrs Drewe Emma Lowndes) arrives at the farm when they're there with the children and can't leave Marigold alone. Mary thinks there's nothing wrong with that but Cora and Drewe (Andrew Scarborough) know she needs to let go.
Mary also tells Anna (Joanne Froggatt) she will help her with her pregnancy woes and takes her to see Dr Ryder (Richard Teverson) who helped her. He manages to diagnose the problem ad tells Anna when she's pregnant and reaches twelve weeks he'll come and carry out the procedure at her home, which will involve the cervix being sewn with a large stitch. She cheers up after that when she returns home and Bates (Brendan Coyle) thinks the trip to London did her good after she'd been moping around. He tells her they could adopt but she calls him "tribal" and that he won't be happy unless he has his own children and she's right as he doesn't disagree with her. Bates's line to Anna, when eh catches her crying, "you're married, that means you never have to cry alone." She must've felt reassured after that. Especially as Mrs Hughes tells Carson she wants one day to herself cos they'll be doing things his way for the next 30 years. Hmm, wonder what she was implying when she uttered, "things." Hope that wan't talk from last episode about the wedding night and thereafter! Innuendo alert, Ha.
Thomas (Rob James-Collier) still wonders about the job position and when they'll get notice of who will be fired. Seems Carson has the boot in for him, since he says he'll be given notice and in the meantime he searches for another job. Which he finds isn't easy and applies for a position as 'assistant butler' in Ripon. The interview doesn't go too well and after getting time off from Carson, who seems happy he's looking for alternatives, the interviewer doesn't seem too happy with him. They invented the job and it involves doing a bit of this and a bit of that, valeting, chauffeuring and whatever else needs doing. He also tells Thomas to drop his high and mighty notions and isn't interested that he's been doing the job for 15 years (not to mention his time in the war. The less said about that the better.)
Seems everyone is ignoring Thomas and especially Andy (Michael Fox) who feels he's capable of doing everything by himself, like winding the clocks, his last job, to Carson asking him to help with the tea when the others go to the show. Carson telling Thomas he won't be needed. Andy is also ignoring Thomas for some reason. Maybe his reputation proceeds him, as he doesn't let him come for a walk with him too. Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) is the only one who tells him not to give up hope and at least he'll be given time to find another position. But why did they need Andy anyway, he's not really doing anything Thomas can't do and he's an extra hand to pay. It appears Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol) also gets the wrong end of the stick, thinking that Thomas is chasing him to get involved with him and he tells her she couldn't be more wrong. As was that interviewer asking him why he's not married yet. Thomas making excuses about working hard and he adds that he's married.
Daisy (Sophie McShera) wants to help Mason (Paul Copley) retain the tenancy but Cora is adamant Henderson will do what he wants and no one cam make him change his mind. Cora allows her to speak to her and then Cora comes up with an idea which she'll try, it may work. Molesley (Kevin Doyle) gets some past exam papers for Daisy to look at and if she passes her exams she'll be in a better position to help Mason.
Edith has problems with the editor back in London and can't believe he is so stubborn. Rosamund (Samanatha Bond) tells her to come back after lunch and try again, but he's set in his ways. Edith tells her she's also worried about Marigold and Mary taking her to the farm, who like Robert thinks she should just come clean and tell her. Why didn't Edith just bring Marigold with her. Robert wonders why she doesn't just tell Mary about her, but she knows Mary will put her down. They're both getting the same train back from London. At the show, Mary seems to impress everyone with her pig knowledge and Drewe brings Mrs Drewe, which was a stupid idea cos he knows the family will be there. In a moment where everyone loses concentration, Marigold walks off and is taken by Mrs Drewe. Drewe knows she's taken her, back to the farm and won't hurt her, but Robert knows it's for the best if he leaves the tenancy. Mason probably can take it over now. See all cos of Mary again, Drewe has to leave the farm. Guess she'll make a big deal out of that too when she finds out.
Elsewhere we still have the Dowager (Maggie Smith) and Dr Clarkson (David Robb) taking sides against Merton, (Douglas Reith) Cora and Isobel (Penelope Wilton) over the hospital merger. As Isobel knows it will bring in vital equipment and machines, but the Dowager thinks the level of care will suffer. Robert seems to agree with the Dowager, but Cora doesn't and everyone's still at loggerheads. Merton is still lamenting over Isobel not accepting his proposal.
Downton really seems to be clutching at straws for its final series, there doesn't seem to be that fire and oomph from past series which made this show so likable and watchable the world over. Seems with change in the world, has come change in the show as a sign of the times. As there's less need for hired help, the less there is to watch as the aristocracy reaches its end. It could have been a little more exciting instead of just focusing on the family's problems and Mary appears to be the centre of it all. Like her insufferable line to Anna when she tells her she won't have to pay for the doctor, since she's kept her secrets including having to take Pa
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