Downton Abbey, Season 6, Episode 3

This episode promises the happy nuptials of Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes while continuing the drama over the hospital among other intrigues.

The action begins in the kitchen with Ms. Patmore asking Mrs. Hughes about the final arrangements for her big day.  Mrs. Hughes seems sadly resigned to doing it Carson’s way and the family’s way.  She isn’t very excited about her dress either, stating she’s planning on wearing a “grand day dress” to which Anna will add some embellishments.  Ms. Patmore suggests they send away for a ready-made dress, but Mrs. Hughes refuses.

The Dowager sits in the library hoping for a word with Robert about the hospital. She asks if he has been “thinking sensibly” about the matter unlike his wife.  Robert knows his mother’s game and asks if sensible means merely agreeing with her.  The Dowager advises Robert not to talk to Cora about the matter.  She adds, “I know many happy couples who haven’t spoken in years!”

Edith enters the library and states she’s off again to London to deal with her hateful editor.  Her grandmother asks if its proper for a “young lady” to stay in a flat by herself.  Edith informs her Granny she’s hardly a young lady anymore.  The Dowager decides to leave before Cora comes down.  Robert asks for his mom to stay to at least say hello.  The Dowager retorts, “I suspect it’s less saying hello and more saying ‘en guard!’”

Cora is down in the kitchen reviewing the wedding menu with Ms. Patmore.  She asks the cook if Mrs. Hughes is excited to have the wedding at Downton.  Ms. Patmore confides Mrs. Hughes regrets its been decided for her by Mr. Carson.

Down at the Dowager’s house, the “up to something” music lets us know Ms. Denker is about.  She spies on Mr. Spratt who is adding a stamp to his collection album.  She declares his interests “Silly.”  The backdoor bell rings and Denker suggest Spratt answer it.  Mr. Spratt speaks a minute or two but tells Ms. Denker it was someone at the wrong address.  Denker is suspicious he’s lying.

Anna helps Mary dress for dinner.  Mary opines about her sister’s business, thinking Edith should simply fire the ornery editor but thinks her sister enjoys the drama. (What Mary knows about business beats me!)  Mary reports she received a sad letter from Branson, he appears to be homesick.  Anna tells Mary the dress Mrs. Hughes plans to wear for her wedding “can’t be fixed.”  Mary wonders how Anna’s health has been since they saw the doctor. Anna thinks she might be pregnant again. Mary exclaims, “Well the problem certainly isn’t Mr. Bates.”  This comment makes Anna blush, she’s cautious not to get to excited until she’s further along and can see the doctor.  Mary promises they’ll “Whip up to London for another appointment when the time is right.”

Downstairs, Thomas remains morose as he looks in the paper for a new job.  He wants to stay in the area, which causes Mr. Bates to quip, “If we didn’t know better we’d think you had feelings for York.”  Carson comes in to shoo Thomas upstairs. Carson asks what Thomas’s plans are, Thomas asks for more time off to go for another interview. (He’s not helping his cause by being so overt about his job search.)

Dinner is served upstairs, and Cousin Isobel is suspicious she has been asked to din without the Dowager present in order to cement her alliance with Cora regarding the hospital. Cora asks Mr. Carson if he and Mrs. Hughes can join them in the drawing room after dinner.  Isobel doesn’t want the Dowager to think her and Cora are plotting against her. Robert asks if that’s what they’re doing. Isobel admits they are scheming against his mother but they do not want her to know!

In the kitchen, Mr. Molesley asks Daisy if she’d like help prepping for her exams. Daisy reports she has heard Cora has a plan to help the soon to be displaced Mr. Mason.  Carson enters and scolds Mr. Molesley for not doing his duty upstairs.

Cora speaks to Mrs. Hughes and Carson in front of the entire family in the drawing room.  She begins by saying she thinks Mrs. Hughes has been “railroaded” into accepting the family’s wedding plans.  Robert and Mary immediately protest at what a great honor they are doing for Mr. Carson.  Mrs. Hughes finally gets to speak about what kind of ceremony she would like, a sit down breakfast, music and guests of her own choosing. (How radical!)  She’d like the day to be about her and Mr. Carson, not about the family they work for.  Cora smiles, she understands.  After Mrs. Hughes leaves, Mary rails against her mother, “Why do we have to listen to the servants?" She then goes on to call her mother a “snob.” (Which makes little sense, wanting the servants to be heard and respected is snobby?)

At the Dowager’s house, Ms. Denker asks her employer what she would like to drink before bedtime. Denker begins to gossip about Mr. Spratt, saying she worries about his friends.  The Dowager can’t recall if he has any friends but does confide he has many relations who are always getting married or dying at the most inconvenient times for her!

At Downton, Carson does some gossiping of his own to Robert regarding Thomas. He tells his employer that their “problem child” is looking for work elsewhere. Carson mentions the place where Thomas is to have his next interview and Robert recalls the house vaguely from his youth. (Let me guess another great estate in decline!) Robert excuses himself after complaining of “heartburn.”  It’s probably something more serious.

Mary speaks to Carson regarding the previous discussion about his wedding.  Carson tells Mary as long as she attends, it will “be enough for me.”  It’s hard to know if Carson’s affection for Mary is sweet or a little bit improper.

Thomas makes his way to the estate for his interview.  A disheveled old man who is missing some teeth greets him.

On the streets of London, Edith bumps into a man she met at the Sinderby’s named Bertie.  They reminence about the time they met and Rose.  Edith says she misses Marigold whom she describes as “her ward.”  Bertie invites Edith for a drink with him that evening.

Thomas is lead through a darken house.  The man is Sir Michael Risbey, the owner of the estate.  He confesses he’s let things slide and now the house is empty.  He relates his two sons died in the war.  Thomas tells the man about his military service and it seems they have a rapport.  Sir Risbey states, “Bonds form over war.”  Thomas sees an empty foyer and staircase.  Sir Risbey waxes nostalgic about the parties they hosted, including royalty.  He leads Thomas to a dirty room where clothes hang by the fireplace and newspapers and dust make for a depressing scene.  Sir Risbey reports he has a woman who comes three times a week but no live-in staff since the war.

Thomas is shocked, he asks, “I thought this was a position in a prominent household?”  Sir Risbey is offended and counters, “This is a prominent household!” He again recounts the royalty they used to entertain.  Thomas says gently, “That was a long time ago.”  The old man asks, “Are you a Republican?”  Thomas declines to say but clearly sees this is not the job for him, catering to an old mans delusions.  As he leaves, Sir Risbey adds, “Don’t let standards slip, the good times will return!”  Clearly, the man has lost his grasp on reality.

Edith reviews the copy for the upcoming issue of her magazine.  Mr. Skinner yells and argues with her; offended she’s trying to work.  Edith fires the man and he storms out.  The secretary applauds Edith’s decision, but now they have to complete the magazine by four in the morning.  Realizing she’s late for her date with Bertie, Edith rushes off to meet him.  At the bar, Edith explains her crisis and regrets that she has to go and get to work.  Bertie offers to help and admits he wanted to take her to dinner anyway.  The two leave together.

Cora is getting ready for bed as Robert comes in.  He asks if she thinks Mary suspects Marigold’s true identity.  Cora doubts Mary could believe Edith to be capable of such a deception.  Robert asks Cora to “steer clear” of the hospital issue with his mother.  Cora doesn’t think that will be possible.

At the magazine office in London, Bertie is making himself useful.  He even is completing some articles at the last minute.

Downstairs at Downton, Molesley helps Daisy study for her exams.  She is finding it hard to focus with her distress regarding her former father-in-law’s situation. Molesley informs her he has heard the Drewes will be leaving Yew Tree Farm.  Daisy jumps to the conclusion that Mr. Mason will be the new tenant there.  She wants to tell Mr. Mason, Molesley cautions the matter isn’t settled yet. (That’s never stopped Daisy before.)

There is another knock at the backdoor of the Dowager’s, this time Ms. Denker answers.  It’s Sargent Willis looking for Mr. Spratt.  He asks Spratt about his nephew who had been incarcerated in York.  Spratt wishes Denker would leave, but the cop urges her to stay.  The young man has escaped and has possibly been seen in the neighborhood.  Obviously, this was Mr. Spratt’s mystery caller from the other day.  Mr. Spratt and Ms. Denker deny having seen the fugitive.  Willis leaves.  Ms. Denker smiles at Mr. Spratt.  She asks, “After he was put up in the potting shed, did he get away safely?”  Ms. Denker is the last person one can trust with your secrets.

It’s now the wee hours of the morning and Bertie and Edith have completed the magazine and rushed it off to the printers.  Bertie remarks they make a great team.  Edith is happy she proved herself up to the task, but plans to hire another editor. She confides she needs a purpose in her life, she’s not content with simply be a “Lady.” Bertie confesses, “You inspire me!”  Edith tells him she needs to go home for the wedding of her butler, who started at their house during her grandfather’s time. Bertie says he loves stories like that, and they are becoming more rare. (Yes, Mr. Fellows, we understand, the service class and estates are ending!)

Ms. Patmore receives the ready-made dress she ordered for Mrs. Hughes.  It’s quite plain and Anna and Daisy look at it miserably.  Mrs. Hughes enters, and the women hid the box.  Daisy is asked to go upstairs to light the family’s fires.

Once upstairs, Daisy encounters Lady Cora on her way out.  They exchange a few words before Daisy bursts out with her appreciation of “fixing” Mr. Mason’s problem.  Cora denies that the matter is settled telling the impertinent Daisy “They’ll see what happens.”

Anna tells Mary about the dull dress which arrived for Mrs. Hughes.  Mary has an idea to add a coat over the dress.  Since she isn’t Mrs. Hughes’s size, she suggests borrowing a coat from her mother.  Mary insists Cora won’t mind.

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes review the details prior to the wedding the next day. Mrs. Hughes admits she’s nervous.  They make plans to not see each other until the wedding.

Cora and Isobel again square off with the Dowager and Dr. Clarkson regarding the hospital.  The “against” side criticize Cora for having toured and lunched at the Royal York Hospital.  Cora defends her actions as gathering more information about the changes.  Dr. Clarkson confesses he’s disappointed to learn Cora doesn’t support the status quo.  Isobel launches an attack at the doctor, “Here you’re king. You don’t want to loss your power and become just another country doctor.”  Lord Merton tells the doctor “She doesn’t mean that.”  The Dowager accuses Isobel of drinking.  Cora leaves this unpleasant gathering.

Ms. Patmore explains supper will be simple due to tomorrow’s wedding.  Thomas complains, which leads Carson to ask how his interview went.  Thomas confesses, “Not well.”  Then he turns to Andy and adds, “I bet you’ll be glad to see the back of me!” Andy gives a neutral answer.  As Andy leave, Baxter tells Thomas, “Don’t fish!” Thomas tells her they have got him all wrong, he just wants to be friends with Andy and complains the other staff poisoned him against Thomas.  It’s unclear what Thomas’s motives are; he’s frequently been portrayed as “predatory gay.”  Has he given up on love out of frustration?

Anna tells Mrs. Hughes Mary has a surprise for her and to go up to Cora’s room at a certain time.

Robert greets Edith in the library; he congratulates her on finishing her magazine. Mary predictably rolls her eyes.  Cora comes in, stating her morning was good but her afternoon was horrible.

Cora goes up to her room to see Mrs. Hughes, Anna and Ms. Patmore trying on her clothes!  Cora is understandably confused and vents her anger at the three servants and orders them out of her room at once.  Anna tries to explain Mary gave them permission but obviously Cora wasn’t informed.  The servants flee their mistress’s wrath.

Anna goes to Mary to explain what transpired in her mother’s bedroom.  Mary promises to set her mother straight about the whole business.  Robert defends Cora when he hears Mary’s explanation.  Cora is mainly frustrated that she was not informed of Mary’s promise to Mrs. Hughes. (However, Cora wasn’t home all day and the wedding is tomorrow!)

Downstairs, Thomas is not surprised by Lady Grantham’s attitude.  “Thirty years of service, and you make one mistake and you’re out on your ear!”  No one has been fired for this offense.  Daisy brags that Lady Grantham has resolved Mr. Mason’s tenancy situation.  Thomas tells Mr. Carson he just can’t see the future at Downton.

Mrs. Hughes tells Ms. Patmore how Cora made her feel like “a naughty child.”  Just then, Cora comes down to speak to her.  She apologizes and confesses she had an awful day and took it out on the wrong person.  She offers Mrs. Hughes the coat, to keep. She tells her Baxter will help with the last minute fitting.

Mr. Carson packs a suitcase.  Mrs. Hughes settles in her bed for one last night alone.  In another room, Carson lies down on his bed, solo for one more night.

In the morning, flowers are cut for the wedding party.  Ms. Patmore brings Mrs. Hughes tea in bed.  Anna and Baxter are on hand to dress the bride.  Carson practices his vows, adorably nervous.  He becomes even more nervous when Molesley shows him the flowers for the wedding party.  He appoints the men his ushers, stating, “Hanged for a sheep as a lamb!”  (This expression means that if one is going to get in trouble, one might as well go all out. In England, killing a lamb was a hanging offense so if one is going to die anyway, might as well get the most meat out of it.)  He grudgingly allows Thomas to be a member of the wedding party.

Vows are spoken at the church where the servants sit on one side and the family the other.  As the ceremony finishes, bagpipes play in honor of Mrs. Hughes’s Scottish heritage.

Isobel apologizes to Dr. Clarkson for her outburst, Dr. Clarkson admits what she said was true.  He is willing to re-examine his position on the hospital change. The Dowager hears this comment and adds, “Second thoughts are vastly over-rated!”  The doctor notes even fuddy-duddy Lord Merton is for the change.  The Dowager responds, “Like a turkey in favor of Christmas!”  The Dowager has a clear opinion of anyone who opposes her.

The happy couple kisses outside the church and proceed to the schoolhouse where a beautiful breakfast has been laid out.  Mary offers an apology to Mrs. Carson.  She responds, “He’d forgive you if you attacked him with a brick!”  Mr. Bates notices his wife’s healthy glow and tries to guess what her secret.  Molesley speaks to the schoolmaster regarding Daisy’s exams.  The man sees Molesley’s potential.  Molesley states he feels like he’s missed everything in his life.  Daisy has told Mr. Mason about the vacant farm and the old man thanks Lady Grantham. (Awkward!)

Mr. Carson makes a speech, declaring himself the luckiest and happiest man in the world.  Suddenly, Mr. Branson appears with little Sybie!  He tells them back to stay as long as they want him.  Edith asks what happened in America.  Branson explains he had to leave to realize Downton was home and he considers them his family. George runs to greet his cousin.  

A sweet end to another episode, so surely, drama awaits!

There are a few things to ponder before the next installment.  Last week, it seemed clear that Mr. Mason had a place at Downton with the Drewes leaving their farm.  In this episode, it all seems up in the air again.  It’s frustrating that Daisy is portrayed as such clueless ditz.  What will Denker get Spratt to do in order to keep his secret? Will Edith find happiness with Bertie only to have Michael Gregson appear alive and well at his flat? What will Mary do now that Branson has returned and presumably will take back his position as agent?  Is there any chance Mary and Branson might get together?  It’s a safe guess there will be many more twists as the drama unfolds in the final season.