Downton Abbey Season 2 Episode 4

Set in 1918…

Caught in the act by Mrs. Hughes... and preggers!

Cora is clearly running the hospital and Isobel feels resentful and unneeded so she leaves for nursing work in France after the two women have it out. Cora rearranged meal times and work schedules for the nurses without consulting Isobel. With Isobel gone, her servants Mrs. Bird and Molesley start a soup kitchen for veterans. Mrs. Patmore and Daisy join the cause and bring leftovers from Downton Abbey. O’Brien never misses a chance to cause problems and lets Cora know what the staff are up to. Cora is delighted at the idea and O’Brien has to help out instead of getting one over on the other staff.

Matthew and William go missing at the front. Robert Grantham discovers Bates is working at a local pub and brings him back to Downton Abbey. Ethel the maid beds Major Bryant and is caught in the act by Mrs. Hughes. Ethel gets the sack but then Mrs. Hughes finds out Ethel is pregnant and takes a kinder stance. Lady Mary decides to marry Sir Richard Carlisle. Branson says he wants to run away with Sybil and will wait until she’s ready. Matthew and William show up during a fund raising concert, alive.

Isobel's services are no longer required...

Quotes from Downton Abbey Season 2 Episode 4

Violet Grantham: I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.
 
Isobel Crawley: [to Cora] It would be foolish to accuse you of being unprofessional since you’ve never had a profession in your life.
 
Isobel Crawley: What time is Dr Clarkson’s round?
Cora: It’s already happened.
Isobel Crawley: Without me? Why? I’m not very late.
Cora: We didn’t see the need to wait.
 
Isobel Crawley: But the patients are always served their luncheon at half past twelve.
Mrs. Patmore: Well, today they’ll be served at one.
 
Isobel Crawley: May I have a word?
Cora: Can it wait?
Isobel Crawley: No it cannot wait. I’ve just come from downstairs where I learned that my timetable has been wantonly disregarded.
Cora: If you mean the new lunchtime, the wretched servants were having to eat at 11 and then starve until their tea at 6 so…
Isobel Crawley: I also discovered that you tore up the nurses timetable.
Cora: I haven’t torn up anything.
Isobel Crawley: Of course, it would be foolish to accuse you of being unprofessional since you’ve never had a profession in your life.
Cora: Now, just a minute…
Isobel Crawley: You may think you have the right to ordain the universe, but in this field…
Cora: No, not in this field, in this house yes I do have the right given me by Dr Clarkson and by the law of the land. This is my house and I am in charge right alongside you and if you would stop your bullying…
Isobel Crawley: That’s enough. I will not listen to this. If I am not appreciated here I will seek some other place where I will make a difference.
Cora: Good.
Isobel Crawley: I mean it. I cannot operate where I am not valued. You must see that.
Cora: Certainly.
Isobel Crawley: I shall go. I will.
Cora: Perhaps it would be best.
Isobel Crawley: I repeat. I mean it.
Cora: I’m sure you do. And so do I.
 
Mrs. Hughes: It was always a question of “when”.
 
Lady Edith: Ethel, have you nothing to do?
Major Charles Bryant: I was keeping her talking. You mustn’t blame her.
Lady Edith: I don’t.
 
Violet: Are you quite sure about Lavinia?
Lady Mary: She wasn’t Sir Richard’s mistress. She gave him the evidence to settle the debt of someone she loved.
Violet: And this is your beau is it? A man who lends money then uses it to blackmail the recipient?
Lady Mary: He lives in a tough world.
Violet: And will you be joining him there?
 
Cora: Is it true they’re fed from our kitchens?
Daisy: Only the stuff the army gives.
Mrs. Patmore: That’s right. We only use the food the army pays for and all the men have served their country.
Cora: In future, I would prefer it if you would use food paid for by the house. I don’t want the army to accuse us of mismanagement.
O’Brien: You mean you’re going to let them get away with it?
Cora: Oh more than that. I’m going to help them and so are you. Molesley, if you bring that table across we can split the food and form two lines and it will go faster.