[INT. LORD GRANTHAM'S DRESSING ROOM - EVENING]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Rather unlike Carson. We'd better go straight in to dinner.

　　MR BATES

　　I shall tell Miss O'Brien and Anna.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Any more news of the by-election? Mr Crawley was here earlier. He said his mother had gone to the Liberal rally in Ripon.

　　MR BATES

　　I heard it was quite lively.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I daresay the Townies will make the usual stink when the Tory candidate's returned.

　　MR BATES

　　I'm not sure. I heard the Liberal was given a hard time today. Mr Branson said it was getting out of hand when they left.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Typical Branson to be there. I hope he squared it with Carson. Who went with him?

　　MR BATES

　　Er...I'm not sure anyone went with him, my lord.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　You just said \"they\". Who was with him?

　　MR BATES

　　I'd rather not say.

　　[Robert turns away from the mirror to look at Bates.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Bates, who was with him?

　　MR BATES

　　Lady Sybil.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Lady Sybil? Why?

　　MR BATES

　　I should never have mentioned it, my lord. I thought you knew.

　　[Robert turns sharply back to the mirror.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　No, I did not know.

　　[INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I gather you went to hear the Liberal candidate today?

　　LADY SYBIL

　　There were several speakers, actually. He was the last.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Did he speak well?

　　LADY SYBIL

　　I thought so.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　But there was quite a brouhaha.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　You know what these things can be like.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I do.

　　[Robert bangs down his fork and knife on his plate.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Which is why I am astonished you should not feel it necessary to ask my permission to attend! I assume this was Branson's scheme.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　No.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I confess, I was amused at the idea of an Irish radical for a chauffeur, but I see now I have been na've.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I told Branson to take Sybil.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　What are you saying?!

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Sybil needed to go to Ripon. I asked Branson to drive her. I thought it would be sensible, in case there was trouble.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　I want to do some canvassing. The by-election isn't far off.

　　[Robert and Violet stare open mouthed at Sybil.]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Canvassing?

　　LADY SYBIL

　　Oh, it's quite safe. You're in a group and you knock on doors.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Yes, I know what canvassing is.

　　LADY MARY

　　I think that Sybil is--

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　What? Are you canvassing, too? Or would you rather take in washing?

　　LADY MARY

　　I was only going to say that Sybil is entitled to her opinions.

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　No! She isn't until she is married. Then her husband will tell her what her opinions are.

　　LADY MARY

　　Oh, Granny!

　　LADY SYBIL

　　I knew you wouldn't approve.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Which presumably is why you all hid your plans from me.

　　[Thomas removes the first course.]

　　[INT. SERVE ROOM - EVENING]

　　THOMAS

　　Her Ladyship will have a smacked bottom if she's not careful.

　　MR CARSON

　　Hurry up. I don't want anything else to go wrong tonight. Where's the sauce? Doesn't this have Hollandaise?

　　DAISY

　　I'll get it. I won't be a jiffy.

　　THOMAS

　　Would you do that for me?

　　DAISY

　　I'd do anything for you.

　　[INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING]

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Does this mean you won't be presented next month?

　　[Cora rolls her eyes.]

　　LADY SYBIL

　　Certainly not. Why should it?

　　VIOLET, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, I doubt I'd expect to curtsey to Their Majesties in June, when I'd been arrested at a riot in May. But them I'm old. Things may be different now.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　She hasn't been arrested, and it wasn't a riot.

　　LADY EDITH

　　But it might be next time.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　There will not be a next time.

　　[Sybil sighs.]

　　[INT. SERVANTS' HALL - EVENING]

　　ANNA

　　Her  Ladyship's not best  pleased  at  being told  off  in  public. William  said  she  was  looking daggers.

　　MR BATES

　　I'm sorry I started all this.

　　BRANSON

　　Ah, it's not your fault. Anyway, he ought to be glad he's got a daughter who cares.

　　[Thomas enters.]

　　THOMAS

　　Her Ladyship's ready to leave.

　　[Branson gets up from the table.]

　　BRANSON

　　I'll bring the car around.

　　THOMAS

　　Are you pleased with yourself?

　　ANNA

　　Silly chump.

　　[Anna grins.]

　　MR BATES

　　He's nervous. He thinks I'm planning to tell Mr Carson about the wine.

　　ANNA

　　Well, he shouldn't have stolen it then, should he?

　　MR BATES

　　No. But I don't want anyone to lose their job because of me.

　　ANNA

　　Even Thomas? Even after what they tried to do to you?

　　MR BATES

　　Even then.

　　[INT. GREAT HALL - EVENING]

　　MR CARSON

　　Your Ladyship, do you have a moment?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Of course.

　　MR CARSON

　　I have received a letter, my lady, from a friend of mine. He's valet to the Marquess of Flintshire.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I don't envy him.

　　[Carson chuckles]

　　MR CARSON

　　Lord Flintshire is a minister at the Foreign Office.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　As you know, Lady Flintshire is His Lordship's cousin.

　　MR CARSON

　　Oh, of course, of course. The point is, he has dealing with the Turkish ambassador. It seems His Excellency has made him privy to a scurrilous story concerning Lady Mary and the late...

　　[Carson checks over his shoulder.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Mr Pamuk.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　May I read this letter?

　　[Carson opens the letter and hands it to Cora.]

　　MR CARSON

　　Is there anything you want me to do about it?

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　No, thank you. Sometimes even to deny these things is only to throw paraffin onto the flames.

　　MR CARSON

　　I did try to inform His Lordship--

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　What?

　　MR CARSON

　　But I...couldn't seem to find the right moment.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Quite right. Please leave His Lordship to me.