- August 1920: Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
- August 1920. At Ethel's request, Isobel and Mrs Hughes arrange a meeting with Mr and Mrs Bryant as Ethel believes her son Charlie would have a better life with them. The kindly Mrs Bryant offers money but Ethel, though it is heart-breaking for her, agrees that the couple should raise her son for his own benefit. Edith, incensed at the limits of women's suffrage, has an article published in the press, which annoys Robert, but he is even more angry when Tom and the pregnant Sybil arrive from Ireland. Tom is on the run as an I.R.A sympathiser who has attended their meetings and will be arrested if he returns to Dublin, making them exiles though Tom expresses a wish to return to his homeland. Handsome new footman Jimmy turns the heads of the maids - and Thomas - whilst Daisy is put out when Alfred seems smitten by new kitchen maid Ivy.—don @ minifie-1
- Everyone is upset when Tom arrives at Downton, on the run from the law and without Sybil who should join him in a few days. Lord Grantham is outraged that he's left her behind. Edith is searching for something to do for the rest of her life and may have found it when The Times publishes her letter on women's right to vote. Lord Grantham insists that Matthew review the estate's financial records and he is not pleased with what he finds: antiquated methods and a great deal of waste. Raising the issue with Robert doesn't prove to be easy. With the estates finances now in order, Carson receives permission to hire more staff. A handsome new footman, Jimmy, sets tongues wagging but Daisy isn't so pleased with the new kitchen helper, Ivy, after Alfred flirts with her. Anna and John are despondent over the fact they've not received any letters from the other. Ethel has decided it would be best if she let the Bryants raise her son.—garykmcd
- Matthew, having invested the inheritance in Downton, finds its management financially inadequate but the dowager he confides into agree one can't solve that without ruffling too many feathers. He curbs the earl's willingness to grant Carson's request to rebuild the staff, with dead-gorgeous young valet James 'Jimmy' Kent, whom Thomas is eager to mentor, jumping above simple Alfred, who even Carson can't train to perfection. The latter seems out of Daisy's reach again as he seems more interested in new kitchen maid Ivy Stuart. Tom Branson arrives alone at night, before Sibyl, having fled Ireland separately as he is wanted for consorting with revolutionaries who torched an aristocratic castle, to Robert's fury, but the family gets him to negotiate a deal with the ministry, in fact voluntary banishment to Downton. Isobel and Hughes arrange for fallen maid Ethel to present her son Charlie to the wealthy Bryant grandparents, who end up taking him in, without her, for decent schooling. Tipped off by his cellmate Craig's nemesis, Bates turns the tables on contraband planting and regains mail privileges, to his and Anna's great relief.—KGF Vissers
- "Downton Abbey" - Episode #3.3 - January 20, 2013
Carson is handing out the mail and Anna is dismayed to find that, again, there is nothing from the imprisoned Bates.
In said prison, Bates is similarly sad to see nothing in the post from Anna.
Matthew and Mary are bickering about him pulling his weight as co-owner of the estate. He doesn't want to challenge Robert. They ask Anna about Bates and she's unsure why she hasn't heard from him. She keeps a stiff upper lip.
Mrs. Crawley goes to visit Mrs. Hughes and delivers Ethel Parks' letter and reports that Ethel has been working as a prostitute. Mrs. Hughes is aghast and sad. Mrs. Crawley asks if the letter contains anything that shows how she can help. She hopes Mrs. Hughes will let her know.
Matthew explains his investment in the estate to Carson. Carson wants to staff up. Robert thinks they can. Matthew isn't so sure. Carson complains, but Robert assures him that things will go back to normal.
Over breakfast the next day, Edith, Matthew and Robert talk about women getting the vote in USA. Edith spouts off about it and Matthew says she should write for the "Times". Edith says she might.
At servants' breakfast Carson alerts Anna that soon she'll be able to go back to a lady's maid. Carson says he'll also advertise for a new footman. Mrs. Hughes tells Mr. Carson about the letter from Ethel, who is requesting a meeting, but not at Downton. Hughes says she'll ask to meet at Mrs. Crawley's.
Mary and Matthew look at wallpaper for their new sitting room, which could possibly be a nursery in the future. Matthew seems eager for an heir, but Mary says that can wait.
Edith goes to visit the Dowager Countess. They discuss the horridness of her being jilted at the altar. The Countess tells her to keep busy. Edith asks for suggestions. The Countess says she's a woman with a brain and to stop whining and find something to do.
Anna breaks down with Mrs. Hughes about the lack of mail from Bates. She worries that he's trying to be gallant and set her free. Mrs. Hughes doubts that. She knows there will be a good reason for the silence.
At the prison Bates works in some kind of sewing room and his informant comes and tells him that the guards know Bates tricked them and that they're working for his cellmate. He tells him that he's been reported as a "dangerous" inmate and that is why his mail has stopped and Anna hasn't been to visit. He's relieved. The informant says to save his relief until he knows what else is in store.
Carson is teaching Alfred about the flatware names and order. Thomas is surprised that Carson is helping him since he never did that for him. Carson notes that Thomas never asked him for help.
Ethel, Mrs. Crawley and Mrs. Hughes meet and Ethel asks them to write the Bryants so she can give them Charlie. She's realized that even though she believes in a mother's love as most important, but it's clear she can scarcely take care of Charlie. Mrs. Crawley tries to convince her to take her help and let Charlie stay. She thinks the Bryants will give him a good life. Mrs. Hughes says she will write them and keep it vague. Mrs. Crawley's cook/maid Mrs. Byrd continues to be super snide to Ethel because she is a prostitute. Mrs. Crawley dresses her down for being discourteous.
Archbishop Lang complains about the "foreignness" of Catholics to Robert at a fancy dinner at Downton in his honour.
In the dark, rainy night a figure on a bicycle rides furiously and then runs. We cut to Sybil, telling Edith by phone to Downton to tell them she's alright and that "they haven't stopped me." Edith asks who "they" is, but Sybil cuts the line.
Edith tells Cora and Mary. Suddenly, during dinner, there is a loud knock at the door. It's Branson, he's back! And he's on the run! He tells Mary he had to get away and that Sybil will be following and that he made arrangements for her. He says he'll tell her the whole tale when the coast is clear. Mary goes back to dinner and covers. But she does lean over and tells her dad. Robert complains that other men have sons-in-law that preach or farm. The Countess points out that no family is what it seems from the outside.
Downstairs they speculate that Branson is on the run from the police. Carson offers to take up his food to stop the gossip.
Later in the drawing room Branson explains that some agitators set fire to a royal castle in Ireland. The Countess points out it was a dreadful castle so there's that. Branson didn't hurt anyone and was part of the protest, but it got out of hand. And he felt bad for the family. Even though he doesn't want "their type" to govern Ireland, he didn't want to hurt those people. He says Sybil was not involved at all. The police are looking for him so he came here. They're aghast he left the pregnant Sybil behind to fend for herself. He doesn't believe the authorities will hold her. Needless to say, the Crawleys are not happy and unsure what to do. Branson goes to bed and bursts into tears.
The servants talk about it and wonder if he might have to go prison. Carson sends them off to bed. He tells Hughes that he knew he would bring shame to Downton. She tells him to wait and see what the morning brings. She pulls out a newfangled electric toaster. Carson disapproves.
The young man interviewing to be the new footman arrives and, hubba, hubba, he is hot. His name is Jimmy Kent. The women are speechless in the face of his hotness. Thomas is also happy.
The next morning Robert tells Branson that whatever he does, he does for Sybil; and he will work on keeping him out of prison. Robert calls Branson's world harsh. Branson says they all live in a harsh world, but unlike Robert, Branson knows it.
Carson interviews Jimmy and needles him a bit about his looks.
Ethel and Charlie meet with the Bryants at Mrs. Crawley's. Mr. Bryant continues to be nasty and awful, especially since now that they know she's a prostitute. Mrs. Bryant tries to be nice and says they should try and be friends. He says he judges her and finds her wanting. They offer her money, so she won't have to keep being a whore. Ethel sticks to her guns to give them Charlie even in light of this new offer. They take her up on it and she says goodbye to Charlie. Mrs. Bryant tries to be kind, as Ethel breaks down. Mrs. Hughes reassures her she did the right thing. Ethel leaves. Mrs. Hughes wonders aloud to Mrs. Crawley what chance a woman like Ethel has, once she has taken the road to ruin and there's no way back.
The informant and Bates chat at chow time about how they're going to throw his cellmate under the bus the following night. Bates wonders why this guy is helping him. He says he hates Bates' cellmate.
Mary happens upon Matthew looking over Downton estate files and he says he's starting to make headway. Carson enters and she asks about the search for the new footman. He notes there was a steady candidate and another that the ladies seem to like because he was handsome. Mary implores him to hire the handsome one to cheer everyone up a bit.
The guards come in to check Bates' cell: they discover a mysterious package in his cellmate's bunk and drag him out. He tells Bates he'll be sorry.
A car arrives at Downton and... it's Sybil! She tearfully reunites with Branson. He apologizes profusely. She calms him. She explains that she wasn't stopped but it doesn't mean they won't come after her. Sybil defends Tom and says they had a plan laid out. They argue about what to do next. Tom had wanted the baby to be born in Ireland but they don't know now. They get a telegram from Robert who says he's seen his advisor and that Sybil and Tom are to stay put.
Thomas returns from London and hears the news of the new footman. He walks by Jimmy's room just as he's dressing. Jimmy asks to come to Thomas if he needs any advice. Thomas is happy to help. O'Brien notes this.
Robert returns before dinner and informs Tom that the deal is he can never return to Ireland. Tom, of course, is mad. But then it comes out that he really was more involved in the planning. Tom says he was always against physical violence. The Brits don't want to make a martyr out of Branson, so they have to stay away or he'll be arrested when he touches dry land.
Alfred gets in a snit about Jimmy seemingly jumping right up to first footman.
Edith reports that she's written to the newspaper. The Dowager doesn't care for this. Cora agrees and the Countess is surprised. Robert says it will never be published. Everyone gets to meet Jimmy and the ladies of the upstairs approve as well. (Carson renames him James against his will.)
O'Brien and Thomas chat about Jimmy. She calls him nice.
Robert tells Branson the next day they will make plans. Branson is upset but he does give Robert his gratitude. Robert tells Matthew he only offers gratitude to keep peace with Sybil. But, since he only saved him for the same reason, he figures they're even. Matthew wants to talk about the books and making changes, but Robert brushes him off.
In prison, Bates gets a handful of mail thrown at him. The guard tells him they came when he was out of favor and now he's in favor, but to watch out for that one guard, Durrant, who doesn't like him. Bates rips open the letters with tears of joy.
We see smoke fill the downstairs hall and Carson runs to Mrs. Hughes' room. She was testing out her new toaster and had it set to "high". She giggles.
Sybil and Branson argue about the things that he kept from her. Branson says he can't stay for long. She says he must and he must let the baby be born here. He notes she's very free with her musts. She says she will not be free with her child's safety and peace and Downton can offer both.
At breakfast, Robert is aghast to see that Edith's letter did in fact get notice in the "Times". Matthew is impressed. Robert is aghast that Matthew supports her. Matthew says of course he does and so will Robert when he thinks about it. Of course, Branson supports her. Carson wisely chooses to stay out of it. Edith allows herself a small smile.
Mrs. Hughes delivers Anna's packet of letters and she's thrilled.
Alfred thanks Daisy for sticking up for him over Jimmy. She says she's on his side. She's about to ask him out when Mrs. Patmore interrupts and introduces her to the new kitchen maid Ivy, who Alfred instantly takes a shine to, which of course makes Daisy instantly hate her and be rude even though Ivy wants to be friends.
Matthew goes to the Countess to discuss the fact that he's sunk his fortune into Downton and talk about doing what he can about Downton being mismanaged. He wants to figure out how to fix things without putting people's noses out of joint. She says it's probably not possible.
Bates reads and re-reads his letters in his cell and Anna does the same in her room.
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