The Dowager (Maggie Smith) and Isobel (Penelope Wilton) discuss the events of the last episode and the hospital reforms over tea, so it's still possible for them to do so and be civil with the Dowager stressing how important it is for them to have the hospital remain open. Even if it will be open for emergencies such as Robert's (Hugh Bonneville). There was a meeting about it and it appears Dr Clarkson (David Robb) was also there, with the Dowager knowing he's turned to the other side. She also asks Isobel about Lord Merton (Douglas Reith) and whether her feelings for him have changed, looking ta her closely when she says they haven't.
It's been decided that Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) will be the new president of the hospital taking over the role from the Dowager who won't be pleased when she finds out and Cora says she's going to accept it. They also want to keep Isobel on as almoner. Cora tells Robert but they decide to keep it secret until The Dowager gets their letter. Mary (Michelle Dockery) decides to open Downton to the public for charity with ticket sales going to the hospital. Which they object to as they can't understand what anyone would want to see in their home, including being interested in how they live. Which is just what they do want to see, how they live and the servants and everything else they're not used to.
The staff also ask why they would want to visit and Molesley (Kevin Doyle) says the same thing cos they want to see how the rich live, though not in so many words. Also Bates (Brendan Coyle) doesn't like it and he wouldn't want to snoop in other peoples' houses. Thomas (Rob James-Collier) asks and he's just dealt with abruptly by Carson (Jim Carter). Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) gets a letter from Colye who got ten years asking her to visit him and Molesley thinks she should just ignore it. Molesley is asked to sit a test too by the headmaster of the school as he would like his help and thinks he'll be good since he believes in the education system. He can sit his test when Daisy (Sophie McShera) sits her six exam papers.
Daisy is very uppity lately especially as she doesn't give Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nichol) the letter from from Mr Mason (Paul Copley) to thank her and Mrs Patmore finds it open and in the bin. Daisy making excuses like she couldn't find where she put it but it ended up in the bin opened all by itself! She's also very vocal when Mr Mason brings Mrs Patmore a basket of vegetables from the farm to thank her. Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) telling her this behaviour's uncalled for. What's her problem now, she wants to be the one in the limelight all the time and help him. Daisy's all high and mighty these days. Mrs Patmore's house is ready for renting and her niece will run it. She's even installed a telephone and will be advertizing in the papers. Oh, high and mighty too. Ha.
Edith (Laura Carmichael) tells Branson (Allen Leech) Bertie (Harry Hadden-Paton) will be coming down so she may as well get some advice from him for the open day. With more snide remarks from Mary, who's still on her newfound quest to find out about Marigold. She even asks Branson if he knows anything and later Anna (Joanne Froggatt) almost gives it away, when they talk about Thomas being good with the children and also with Marigold too, Anna saying it's cos they're all... and then stops. Still leaving Mary intrigued and nosing for more and that Anna was going to say something else. Anna having to go down to London again cos she's been having a few problems. Bates wants to pay the bills cos he has money saved and doesn't really want any handout from Mary. He tells Mary this an she still wants to insist when Branson tells her it's his pride even if she is being kind.
Carson was so irritable, sometimes have to ask what Mrs Hughes saw in him? He treats her as a servant more than a wife and not even his equal, which would be too much to ask from a man like Carson ,set in his ways! He even has the nerve to tell Mrs Hughes that she may need some pointers from Mrs Patmore on cooking and he feels like having dinner at the cottage. 'Of course my lord, whatever you wish my lord!' Huh, Carson acting all lardy dah and lord of the manor. She later serves up salmon which he doesn't like cos there's no lemon and no horseradish either mixed with sour cream and he didn't even let Mrs Hughes eat a mouthful before casting it aside. Why doesn't he just eat at the house or better, yet cook for himself. Ha. That'd be a sight.
Mrs Patmore overhears Thomas and Andy (Michael Fox) planning to meet in his room in the night and gets the wrong idea. She later tells Carson who catches Andy coming out of his room, when looking for his own walking stick which he left behind. Carson has a word with Thomas and he tells him nothing happened and his word still isn't good enough after the number of years he's been here. Robert and Carson still conspiring to get him gone from the house in order to save money. Mary says he's good with the children and Robert says he is looking for alternative employment. Carson also tells Thomas about being sacked and he can't see why he has to go, Carson and his high notions again, placing value on the importance of his own job as a butler. Well that's why he was trying to sneak Robert in some wine when he knows he shouldn't be drinking. Robert is tempted but then stops. Another reason why Carson doesn't have any wine at dinner cos, "my lord is abstaining." Oh lord can't take much of his attitude anymore. Yet he has the audacity to call her, "my beautiful wife." Well treat her like your wife then!
Mary invites herself to London and to the dinner party which Evelyn (Brendan Patricks) has organized and wants Henry (Matthew Goode) to be surprised when he sees her, which he is. She also convinces Branson to come too. They decide to go to Brooklyn for the races and Branson will go if she goes. Henry already knows about Matthew and how he died and there's a sudden downpour when they're walking home and he lets slip that as his wife she doesn't have to be there, but he would want her to support him, also stealing a sudden kiss, which wouldn't be surprising if Mary wanted that all along. Yet she still berated Edith over Bertie, calling him boring. More legal London filming this episode with Inner temple being used this time round and Middle Temple Lane. They have the right buildings for period pieces. They kept filming there quiet. Who knew?
Bertie says they should organize groups of ten in a party and talk about the history of the place, which none of them know. They can't let tem just run riot and Carson's concerned about sticky fingers taking things! When questions are asked they don't really know the answers, not Mary, Edith or Cora. But seems Molesley does. The Dowager also seems to know a little like saying the fourth Earl was always in the library and loved his women and drink. She's livid and doesn't care who knows it confronting Cora about becoming the new president and if Robert knew as well when she came to visit. Cora tries to explain later but she doesn't want to know. She doesn't want to see Cora's face. Molesley is happy about what he's just seen and tells Mrs Patmore about their fight.
Branson thinks they can open the house on a regular basis and make money for the house since their costs are still high and it would help, especially after realzing they made a huge amount from one day. Robert mentioning the boy who sneaked into his room asking questions about the big house and why can't they get "a comfy one." Running off when Molesley finds him there. That's why Carson needed his stick, so he could attack anyone caught pilfering. Thomas later asks if he's going to use the stick on him when he talks to him. With his treatment it's no shock that Thomas finally breaks and sits crying alone. No one wants to know him, or be his friend aside from Baxter and you'd think after all this time people would see that he's changed and certainly isn't the same Thomas we saw back in season 1 and later seasons. Mrs Patmore was out of order telling Carson about him especially since he told her he just wants to be friends with Andy and nothing more.. .So would there have been talk if he'd had a woman in his room? Double standards just like Jimmy had a woman and none of the staff found about it.
Two more episodes and it's over and we know where it's all headed. There'll be revelations about Marigold, then Edith hasn't told Bertie about her even if she did introduce him to the children in the nursery. Cora thinks she should have told him, but Robert says it's up to her. Cora also wants to take on the job as president and have something to do now her daughters don't need her anymore. Seems he doesn't want Cora doing anything either like Isobel does. Lord Merton introduces his daughter in law, Amelia Cruikshank (Phoebe Sparrow) and says that Isobel has nothing to worry about as long as she's around, hinting she can now be with him. However that's not what Isobel really wants anymore.
Be warned there's trouble at the race next week with another horrific occurrence.
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