DOWNTON ABBEY {SEASON 2, EPISODE 5} (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic British series about the aristocrats and servants who dwell at the Downton Abbey estate in post-Edwardian Yorkshire.
In this episode, in 1918, both Daisy and Mary feel an inexplicable foreboding as William and Matthew rush into battle. Mr. Molesley soon brings a telegram reporting that Matthew has been seriously injured and will soon arrive at Downton. William, who is not an officer, is assigned to a hospital in Leeds, though a furious Violet argues that Mr. Mason cannot afford the trip to visit his son. Daisy struggles with her sense of shame in leading on William about her interest in him; Anna and Mr. Bates are startled by a visit from Vera, who declares that she's no longer satisfied with her hush money. Violet succeeds in having William brought to Downton, and she decides not to tell Mr. Mason that his son will soon die from irreversible damage to his lungs. Mary volunteers at the hospital alongside Sybil, ignoring Dr. Clarkson's warnings about Matthew's grievous injuries. Mary is touched to find that Matthew always carried her good-luck toy with him.
Miss O'Brien confesses her sense of guilt in having given Vera blackmail ammunition in the form of the Mr. Pamuk story. Mary realizes that she has no choice but to appeal to Sir Richard. Lavinia arrives just as Dr. Clarkson determines that the damage to Matthew's spine is likely permanent; he privately tells Robert that in addition to paralysis of the legs, Matthew must expect "no anything" in terms of sexual function. Mrs. Hughes sneaks food to an impoverished Ethel and reluctantly agrees to help her get in contact Major Bryant, the father of her child. Mrs. Patmore urges an unhappy Daisy to comfort William however she can. Mrs. Hughes interviews Jane Moorsum, a war widow and mother who is in need of a job, and though Mary tries to keep Matthew's spirits up, he guesses his grim diagnosis. Major Bryant again rejects Ethel's pleas for assistance, leaving her with few options, and Sir Richard agrees to "save" Mary from scandal – and to marry her.
Robert accepts Jane as a new maid. Though Lavinia reassures Matthew that her love for him is unchanged, he informs her that they can never be "properly married," telling her to leave and consider him killed in the war. Tom tells Sybil about the execution of the czar and his family, suggesting that "hard sacrifices" are sometimes needed for the sake of the future. Richard convinces Vera to sign a binding contract giving him exclusive rights to her scandalous story. William, aware that he's dying, begs Daisy to marry him on the spot so that she can have his pension and rights as a war widow, though Daisy frets that doing so is "dishonest." Mary finds a distraught Lavinia, who reveals the extent of Matthew's injuries but declares herself desperate to marry him all the same. Robert is surprised to spot Mary and Richard's engagement announcement in the newspaper. Violet browbeats Reverend Travis into performing an impromptu bedside wedding for William and Daisy, and Vera swears revenge when she realizes that Richard has tricked her and can now enforce her silence. Daisy reluctantly goes through with the marriage, attended by most of the downstairs staff. Isobel finally arrives to visit her son as Matthew tells Mary about his attempts to "free" Lavinia from her promise. Mary updates Mr. Bates, who seems relieved that Vera has at last been defeated, and William quietly dies with his father and new wife at his side. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:53:16
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 137398
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; World War I; England
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 2011-2016
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Gareth Neame … Executive Producer
- Julian Fellowes … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Liz Trubridge … Producer
- Charles Hubbard … Line Producer
- Brian Kelly … Director
- Laura Linney … Host
- John Lunn … Music by
- Man Made Music … Theme Music by
- Hugh Bonneville … Cast, Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
- Jessica Brown Findlay … Cast, Lady Sybil Crawley
- Laura Carmichael … Cast, Lady Edith Crawley
- Jim Carter … Cast, Mr. Charles Carson
- Brendan Coyle … Cast, John Bates
- Michelle Dockery … Cast, Lady Mary Crawley
- Siobhan Finneran … Cast, Sarah O'Brien
- Joanne Froggatt … Cast, Anna Bates
- Thomas Howes … Cast, William Mason
- Rob James-Collier … Cast, Thomas Barrow
- Phyllis Logan … Cast, Mrs. Elsie Hughes
- Elizabeth McGovern … Cast, Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
- Sophie McShera … Cast, Daisy Mason
- Lesley Nicol … Cast, Mrs. Bethel Patmore
- Amy Nuttall … Cast, Ethel Parks
- Maggie Smith … Cast, Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
- Dan Stevens … Cast, Matthew Crawley
- Penelope Wilton … Cast, Isobel Crawley
- Zoe Boyle … Cast, Lavinia Swire
- Clare Calbraith … Cast, Jane Moorsum
- Michael Cochrane … Cast, Reverend Travis
- Paul Copley … Cast, Mr. Albert Mason
- Kevin Doyle … Cast, Joseph Molesley
- Maria Doyle Kennedy … Cast, Vera Bates
- Iain Glein … Cast, Sir Richard Carlisle
- Allen Leech … Cast, Tom Branson
- David Maybrick … Cast, Stretcher Bearer
- Daniel Pirrie … Cast, Major Charles Bryant
- David Robb … Cast, Dr. Richard Clarkson
- David Sibley … Cast, Hospital Doctor