[INT. SERVANTS' CORRIDOR - EVENING]

　　[Mr Bates enters through the servants' door with his bag. Mrs Hughes comes into the hallway, surprised to find Bates. She smiles.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Mr Bates. You're a sight for sore eyes. Welcome home.

　　MR BATES

　　Thank you, Mrs Hughes.

　　[Anna steps into the corridor.]

　　ANNA

　　Thought it was you.

　　MR BATES

　　Hello.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Come a way in, and give some substance to the gossip of your return.

　　MR CARSON

　　You'll find things a bit different from when you left, Mr Bates.

　　MR BATES

　　Downton at war?

　　MR CARSON

　　Precisely. There's some extra help in the kitchen, all very nice people. And the nurses of course, but they live down at the hospital.

　　ANNA

　　Except for Lady Sybil.

　　THOMAS

　　Nurse Crawley, please.

　　MR BATES

　　So, we've both returned, you and I. Couple of bad pennies.

　　THOMAS

　　I haven't.

　　O'BRIEN

　　Thomas means he's not here as a servant. He manages the house. He's a sergeant now.

　　THOMAS

　　I take orders from Major Clarkson. He runs this place on behalf of the army medical corps.

　　MR BATES

　　Yet another reason to pray for peace.

　　[Mrs Hughes smiles in amusement.]

　　MR BATES

　　I heard about William from His Lordship. And Captain Crawley.

　　ANNA

　　I'm sure they're all right.

　　[They hear a door bang open and Mr Molesley runs down the corridor.]

　　MR MOLESLEY

　　Sorry I'm late. Has the dressing gong rung yet?

　　MRS HUGHES

　　You're not late, Mr Molesley, but er--

　　MR CARSON

　　Mr Bates is back, and you reminded me I better ring it now.

　　MR MOLESLEY (still panting) Are you staying for good?

　　MR BATES

　　I'd need a crystal ball to answer that, but I'll stay for now. Have you been standing in for me?

　　MR MOLESLEY

　　I was going to starting tonight, yeah.

　　MR BATES

　　Then you'll be relieved to see me.

　　MR MOLESLEY

　　Oh, tremendously.

　　MR BATES

　　What's that?

　　MR MOLESLEY

　　It's a new kind of shoehorn. I bought it for His Lordship.

　　MR BATES

　　That's very kind of you, Mr Molesley, thank you.

　　[Mr Molesley is forced to give Bates the shoehorn. Carson rings the dressing gong in the distance.]

　　THOMAS

　　Daisy, fetch me some more tea.

　　DAISY

　　Thomas, I've got dinner--

　　THOMAS

　　Hot this time, and it's Sergeant Barrow to you.

　　O'BRIEN

　　Watch yourself, Mr Bates. Thomas is in charge now, and it won't do to get on the wrong side of him.

　　MR BATES

　　Is there a right side?

　　[INT. LADY GRANTHAM'S BEDROOM - EVENING]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Oh, I don't believe it. Why would she sell food to Mrs Bird? It makes no sense.

　　O'BRIEN

　　Well, I can't confirm the details of the arrangement. Maybe they both sell it and divide the proceeds. Either way, I felt you should know.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　Have you said anything to Mrs Hughes or Carson?

　　O'BRIEN

　　I've tried with her, but there's none so blind as them that will not see.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I'm curious. Next time, come and fetch me.

　　[INT. DOWNTON GARAGE - EVENING]

　　LADY SYBIL

　　So, Bates is back. Papa must be pleased.

　　BRANSON

　　And Mr Carson won't be sorry.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　Branson, there's something you ought to know. I've told Mary.

　　BRANSON

　　I see. Well, that's me finished then. Without a reference.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　No, she's not like that. You don't know her. She wouldn't give us away.

　　BRANSON

　　But you won't encourage us?

　　LADY SYBIL

　　No. Why are you smiling? I thought you'd be angry.

　　BRANSON

　　Because that's the first time you've ever spoken about "us".

　　[Sybil blushes, surprised by what she said.]

　　BRANSON

　　If you didn't care, you would've told them months ago.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　Oh, I see. Because I don't want you to lose your job, it must mean I'm madly in love with you.

　　BRANSON

　　Well, doesn't it?

　　LADY SYBIL

　　You say I'm a free spirit, and I hope I am. But you're asking me to give up my whole world and everyone in it.

　　BRANSON

　　And that's too high a price to pay?

　　LADY SYBIL

　　It is a high price. I love my parents, you don't know them. And I love my sisters and my friends.

　　BRANSON

　　I'm not asking you to give them up forever. And when they come around, I will welcome them with open arms.

　　LADY SYBIL

　　And what about your people? Would they accept me? And what about my work?

　　BRANSON

　　What work? Bringing hot drinks to a lot of randy officers? Look, it comes down to whether or not you love me. That's all. That's it. The rest is detail.