[INT. MR CARSON'S OFFICE - DAY]

　　MR CARSON

　　Working in a public house?

　　DAISY

　　That's what he said. I thought they'd have told you.

　　MR CARSON

　　That doesn't seem likely that a trained valet like Mr Bates would be content to work in a public house.

　　DAISY

　　Well, that's what he said.

　　MR CARSON

　　Have you mentioned this to Anna?

　　DAISY

　　I haven't said anything to anyone. I thought you all knew. Perhaps you should ask Thomas.

　　MR CARSON

　　Oh, I will ask Thomas, don't you worry about that, my girl.

　　[INT. SERVANTS' CORRIDOR - EVENING]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Didn't it occur to you that we might be interested to hear it?

　　THOMAS

　　Not particularly. As far as I knew, Mr Bates had left your employment.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　You didn't think to tell Carson?

　　THOMAS

　　I'm not under Mr Carson's command now, Your Lordship.

　　[INT. SERVANTS' HALL - EVENING]

　　[Mrs Patmore finds Daisy reading at the table while Ethel knits and O'Brien sews.]

　　MRS PATMORE

　　[?] Daisy! Go to bed before you strain your eyes.

　　[Daisy heads out, but Thomas blocks her way as he enters.]

　　THOMAS

　　Thank you, Daisy for telling Mr Carson all about my private letter.

　　DAISY

　　I didn't know it was a secret. Sorry if I was wrong.

　　THOMAS

　　There's no "if" about it.

　　[Daisy leaves.]

　　O'BRIEN

　　Why answer His Lordship at all?

　　THOMAS

　　What did you want me to do? Tell him to get knotted?

　　O'BRIEN

　　He doesn't pay your wages.

　　THOMAS

　　I'll say. But I won't put you down for a career in diplomacy, then.

　　O'BRIEN

　　What's he after? To get Bates back?

　　THOMAS

　　If Mr Bates wanted his job back, he'd have written for it himself.

　　ETHEL

　　Why would he want his job back? He's like you, he got away.

　　THOMAS

　　He's not very like me, thank you.

　　ETHEL

　　But you're both free of all the bowing and scraping and "Yes, my lord" and "No, my lord." I envy him. I envy you. 'Cause I'm ready for a new adventure and I don't care who hears me.

　　O'BRIEN

　　Well, you know what they say, be careful what you wish for.

　　[EXT. DOWNTON, GROUNDS - MORNING]

　　[Sybil walks the grounds alone, mulling over what Branson said.]

　　BRANSON (V.O.)

　　But the truth is, I'll stay at Downton until you want to run away with me.

　　[INT. LIBRARY - MORNING]

　　[Robert reads a telegram. Anna enters.]

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Ah, good morning, Anna.

　　ANNA

　　You sent for me, milord?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　I did. Come in. I have something to tell you, but I hope I'm right. Carson didn't want you to be troubled with it.

　　ANNA

　　Is this about Mr Bates, milord?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Yes, it is. I've no wish to upset you, but it seems he may be back in Yorkshire working in a

　　public house. We don't yet know where.

　　ANNA

　　The Red Lion in Kirkbymoorside.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM (surprised)

　　Oh. You've seen him, then?

　　ANNA

　　I have. Yes, milord.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　And he's well?

　　ANNA

　　He is. He's not been back to Downton for two reasons. He's hoping to settle certain matters first with Mrs Bates.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　And does he think he can?

　　ANNA

　　He believes so, milord.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Very good. And what is his second reason for avoiding us?

　　ANNA

　　He says he parted with Your Lordship on bad terms. He felt it might be embarrassing.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, it is for me to feel embarrassed.