Whilst the Carsons are away on their honeymoon, Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is the butler now and he relishes the position, and ordering everyone around. At breakfast, the family is glad to have Branson (Allen Leech) home and Edith (Laura Carmichael) wonders if he will now take back the position of Agent from Mary (Michelle Dockery). Branson doesn't know what he's doing yet and Robert (Hugh Bonneville) tells them they don't need to get into a fight over it just yet. The Dowager (Maggie Smith) has involved Lady Shackleton (Harriet Walter) in her plans for the hospital and she thinks she has an ally on her side for the hospital to be run by them and not in York. Lady Shackleton can't see the objections if modern equipment will be good for the people. But the Dowager insists she should show her support for her. Asking if she's here to help or be a hindrance. Lady Shackleton has also invited her nephew to Downton with her, of course we all know who that is.
Rosamund (Samantha Bond) tells Edith that she's trustee of Hillcroft College for bright girls and she intends for Edith to become one too, so she's invited John Harding (Phillip Battley) the treasurer and his wife, Gwen (Rose Leslie) to Downton to introduce them. Edith would like to co-edit the magazine and wants to hire a female editor, which Isobel (Penelope Wilton) thinks is a good thing and applauds her. Mary being in agreement for once, saying that it is a lady' magazine after all. Rosmaund is surprised that Mary actually supports her for once, but she still comes up with a sarcastic comment and a putdown about if enough monkeys read the bible.
Sgt Willis (Howard ward) comes to see Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) in the hopes of getting her to testify against Peter Coyle ("the handsome devil" - but she tells Molesley (Kevin Doyle) he was just a devil) The man who put her up to stealing the jewels. He's been doing the same to two other girls and the sergeant thinks if she testifies it will prevent other girls from falling into his trap. Baxter is reluctant since she doesn't want to see him again and Molesley thinks she should do it to help them. Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nichol) wanted to be there when the sergeant came in place of Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) who is Mrs Carson now, funny how Mrs Patmore still called her Mrs Hughes. But Baxter's asked Molesley which she wasn't happy about. Thomas also telling Mrs Patmore that she should've told him about the sergeant coming down and the phonecall. Anna (Joanne Frogatt) and Bates (Brendan Coyle) were a little unkind when they both say for once the police coming doesn't have anything to do with them.
Mary asks about the baby but she hasn't told Bates yet. Though he says she's noticed she's put on weight and thinks she's probably eaten all the pie. She hasn't told him yet which is why it was absurd that Mary asks Bates for help with the suitcases when there's no one else isn't around, with Bates saying Anna can carry one. Mary replies it's too heavy for her, of course if that didn't give away the secret, then I don't know what would. Also Anna later feels some pain and thinks she may lose the baby. Molesley sees her in distress. She does the same thing when she's with Mary who insists they head down to London right now in the night. Mary will say she's got some medical emergency and they can head to York if they've missed the train. Branson offers to drive them to York and Mary tells him it's for Anna and not to tell anyone. Mary abruptly telling the family she needs to go right now and there's nothing more to be said. With everyone remarking on how Mary looks perfectly well, as did Bates when Anna tells him she has to go.
Baxter tells Thomas she's not like him and hates when people talk about her. She's not strong like him and he just ignores what they say. Of course he tells her that she's wrong about him, he does think about what people say. Thomas also tells Baxter about Molesley liking her, she doesn't agree though. But Thomas did enjoy ordering everyone about. "I am the butler now and don't let's forget it." He also needs volunteers to clear Mrs Cobb's cottage for the Carson's when they return and Andy (Michael Fox) says he'll take some maids with him. Thomas says he'll go too, but he doesn't want him coming. Mrs Patmore looks at Thomas as if to say he hasn't yet cleared the air with Andy. Seems they will be forgetting this and forgetting Thomas too very soon.
Molesley tells Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) about Baxter and the police and she isn't pleased with that. But when the sergeant comes again the second time he explains how Coyle's ruined lives and two of the women had to turn to prostitution cos of him and one is dead. She decides to testify and they will give the names of the witnesses to the prosecution. Who will decide if they need them, especially if he pleads not guilty. She tells Molesley she changed her mind cos she can't see anymore lives ruined, just like he ruined hers. He changed her and after all that she still own't be rid of him.
Lady Shackleford arrives with her nephew and Mary is surprised to learn that it's Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode) He's now into cars and particularly racing them. He was raised in London and so has no idea about the country or its manners. When Lady Shackleton doesn't support the Dowager at dinner. She needs facts before she can take sides. Henry gives Mary his card so they can have lunch or drinks and she accepts. Robert thanks Lady Shackleton for the way she handled herself and didn't make everyone get into any deeper arguments. Cora notices that Robert's pain has returned twice, but he just tells her he can't drink port anymore and not to make a fuss. Does this mean they may kill off another Crawly before the series ends. I mean it's only fitting for them to end the drab hospital storyline in some way.
The Harding's arrives and Thomas recognizes her, but Gwen doesn't acknowledge him. She speaks with Anna though who's glad to see her. Gwen was the maid in series 1, who went off to secretarial school and then became part of the civil service, which is where she met John. Thomas is angry she didn't greet him and at lunch, he lets slip on purpose that Gwen was a former maid. The others are surprised and a little embarrassed, but Mary knew she'd seen her before the way she kept staring at her. Edith thinks it's good she made something of herself, as does Isobel. Gwen says she was going to tell them and then says she had Sybil to thank for everything. She applied for the job for her, drove her to the interview, where they broke down and also she convinced the telephone repair man to give her a job. Robert recalling how he remembered he couldn't go into the library, so it was Gwen in there. Sybil helped her which brings sadness and tears to their eyes, even Mary is moved. Gwen used to send out cards to Sybil and then she heard what happened. Rosamund remarking on how nice a way to remember Sybil.
Branson doesn't know what he's going to do but he thinks maybe cars are for him. Not racing them, but being a part of them. Edith telling him that's nowhere near Downton. Mary is also at a loose end as Gwen's made her think of how she isn't doing very much. Gwen heads down to meet the others and Bates has a go at Thomas for landing Gwen in it with the family. He is taken aback that she didn't even see him and that he didn't know she was planning on fooling the family. Robert also has a word with him about it and tells him he didn't like what he did. Later Thomas tells Robert he liked being butler and Robert hopes he learned from it. That Carson is very kindly too. So he'll know how to act when the time comes for him to leave. Don't see where they're getting rid of him, the household functioned perfectly fine with him as butler when Carson was away. Not to mention the fact that their attitude towards him just reflects their pompousness. They finally accepted Gwen for who she used to be, didn't recognize her cos she was only a maid and they treat Thomas no better. Dismissed after using his services for so long. It's not like the rest of the staff are saints. With Bates and Anna both being charged with murder.
Daisy (Sophie McShera) has another bee in her bonnet, when she finds out that the farm may be handled by Downton and that they're not looking to take on anymore tenants thinking that Cora misled her. Of course it was Daisy who did all the misleading and only has herself to blame. But she's determined to confront Cora about it. She does this after they've decided that Mr Mason (Paul Copley) should become the tenant and they can decide now whilst Mary is away. Branson says he will sort things out with Mary. Daisy is waiting for Cora and Baxter comes with her. She asks about the farm and Robert comes in the nick of time to tell Daisy the good news about Mr Mason, before she can put her foot in it again. Even if it meant losing her job. Cora thinks she's been spared. Yes she was spared Daisy's wrath. Let me see, will Daisy now get together with Andy, the way they looked at each other when Mrs Patmore tries to talk her out of confronting Cora.
The doctor has carried out the minor surgery on Anna and he says he's "cautiously optimistic." Apparently he was only interested in his huge fee for being called out at night! Mary is relieved and see sit as a chance to go out with Henry, who she knows will make a pass at her, she won't accept, but she's ready for it. The newlyweds return and they have drinks ready for them, with the whole family coming down to congratulate them. The Dowager hasn't been in the kitchen for twenty years and Isobel hopes she has her passport. They would prefer to be called Carson and Mrs Hughes (a spin off in the works? ha) which is a relief to Robert and Rosamund. Since Carson and Mrs Carson didn't sound right to them. Anna and Bates finally celebrate their good news.
Yet another episode where that wretched business with the hospital is still being stretched out, it's been four weeks now. How long must it continue. Think Mary has eyes for Branson rather than anyone else and I have said that for a long time now, well as far back as last series, ha! Mary and yet more snickering, this time over the Carson being on honeymoon in Scarborough (they can attend the fair) and nothing more spectacular! She also has a flashback moment to Matthew when he crashed his car, or rather we were meant to have one, when Henry tells her he races cars. Will he meet the same fate? As well as Mary having to wear one of Rosamund's dresses when she meets Henry. Daisy mashing the potatoes with such force in her ire and Mrs Patmore calling her Madame DeFarge. Yes she was about to ignite a revolution of her own downstairs and upstairs too!
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