[INT. MRS HUGHES'S SITTING ROOM - DAY]

　　[Vera Bates pours some tea while Bates stands resolutely.]

　　VERA BATES

　　Sit down.

　　MR BATES

　　I don't want to sit down.

　　VERA BATES

　　Suit yourself.

　　MR BATES

　　Look, I'm not saying it's all your fault for how things were between us, but I couldn't go back to that. I'll take the blame. I'll go to some hotel in Moulton with a tart. So why hold on?

　　VERA BATES

　　Because I tried it on my own and I don't like it. You've got money now. We'd be comfortable.

　　[Bates chuckles humourlessly.]

　　MR BATES

　　You're out of your mind. What makes you think that I would allow that to happen?

　　VERA BATES

　　You went to prison for me once.

　　[Vera takes a sip of the tea.]

　　VERA BATES

　　I must say, this is very good. Does Lord Grantham have his own blend?

　　MR BATES

　　Is that all?

　　VERA BATES

　　Not quite. You see, if you don't come back to me, I'm going to the newspapers with a cracking story, and I'd like to bet the Granthams won't survive it.

　　MR BATES

　　Oh? And what nonsense is this?

　　VERA BATES

　　The nonsense I heard when I used your name to get a job with Lady Flincher. His Lordship's cousin.

　　MR BATES

　　I know who Lady Flincher is.

　　VERA BATES

　　When I arrived, her maid asked me if it was true about Lady Mary Crawley and the Turkish diplomat. They thought I'd know, you see, being your wife.

　　MR BATES

　　I hope you told them you knew nothing about it.

　　[Vera laughs.]

　　VERA BATES

　　As if. I said, why don't you tell me what you think you know, and I'll tell you if it's true. Goodness me, wasn't my patience rewarded. The public's bored with the war, you see. They like gossip. And a diplomat dying in the bed of an earl's unmarried daughter. Well! That takes the ticket for the tale of the year.

　　MR BATES

　　It's a pack of lies!

　　VERA BATES

　　I assume that's loyalty and not ignorance. Because, you see, I heard that Lady Mary needed her maid to help her carry him. And, yes, you guessed it, your precious Anna's gonna figure in the story, too. Not to worry too much. It's not a criminal offense, is it? Just a social one.

　　[Bates grabs Vera's wrists, shaking with rage.]

　　MR BATES

　　You bitch.

　　VERA BATES

　　Please. Be my guest. Well then you must excuse me when I run into town and have it photographed.

　　[Mr Bates lets her go, then sinks in the chair across the tea table.]

　　MR BATES

　　What do you want from me?

　　VERA BATES

　　Firstly, you'll hand in your notice. Tonight. I'll put up at the pub in the village.

　　MR BATES

　　What reason do I give?

　　VERA BATES

　　You don't need a reason. Just tell them that you're going. And then tomorrow we head back to London. Stay in your mother's house for the time being till we get ourselves sorted. And in case you're wondering, whatever my future plans may be, they will involve you.

　　[Mrs  Hughes shuts the grate in the corridor  outside her  sitting room  where she's  been eavesdropping, then shifts a box to conceal it and leaves.]

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

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Bates, when you first came here, I fought to keep you! Everyone was against me! Everyone! From Her Ladyship to Carson! They thought I was mad! But I said to them, "After all that we've been through together, Bates and I, I owe him my loyalty!"

　　MR BATES

　　I appreciate that, my lord, but--

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　But what?! But loyalty doesn't matter to you?!

　　MR BATES

　　It does matter, my lord.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Not enough to make you change your mind! Not even enough to make you stay until I've found a replacement!

　　MR BATES

　　I can't.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　You won't take any more money off me! You leave empty handed!

　　MR BATES

　　I don't want money, my lord.

　　[Robert pauses a moment, considering.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I'm sorry, Bates, that was a low shot. Of course, you can have whatever is owing to you. I thought we were friends, that's all. I thought we'd crossed a great divide successfully. Well, well. I've had my say. It's your life. But you've disappointed me, Bates.

　　[Bates stands stiffly, close to tears from Robert's stinging words.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I cannot remember being more disappointed in any man.