A Letter to My Daughters Featured at "For Every Mom" today!

Hi again! (Twice in less than 24 hours? I think that's some kind of record!)

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My Favorite Moments from the Downton Abbey Finale, S6:E9

Oh friends. Wasn’t that all so lovely?

I’ve chatted with many of you, and I think we all agree on one thing: the Downton Abbey finale was perfect in every way.

Oh sure, it was cheesy (especially that last scene with Isobel and Violet talking about moving forward to the future instead of back into the past—what?—but still, I’m glad they gave Violet the last line), and sure, it was predictable (Mary’s pregnant!), but you have to admit that it was pretty much the tied-up-with-a-ribbon package that we all wanted it to be.

And such a happy ending it was.

I have watched this episode a few times (call it research), and every time I start to cry about 30 minutes in and pretty much don’t stop until the end. I think it hit me, finally, that this silly television show that brought me so much joy for the past six years, is finally OVER. It sounds so trite, I know—it’s a TV show!—but I really am going to miss it.

I have had so much fun writing these posts and getting feedback from all of you. I’ve loved dishing about the latest antics, the cruel gestures, the unkind remarks, and the crazy escapades. These characters have taken on lives of their own, and at times, I’ll admit, I got a bit too caught up in thinking about them.

I guess that’s what makes it a good series, though. Characters you love in a setting you adore in a story that takes you right in. Just like a good book, and whoever found fault in a good book?

This week, because it was impossible to find just five lines that I loved in a 90 minute finale, I’m going to write about my favorite happy endings. Yes, I’ll include some of my favorite lines, but do me a favor and don’t count the number.

Let’s just dish.

Thomas

If you’ve been around here for any time at all, you know that there has been no love lost between me and Thomas. In fact, for five seasons I haven’t been able to find many redeeming qualities in the guy.

But this year was different.

It seems Julian Fellowes spent some time rounding out his character, smoothing off some of those rough edges, even taking him to some admittedly low lows, only to bring him to his highest high—the position he’s always wanted: Head Butler of Downton Abbey.

And I’m happy for him. For all of Thomas’s faults, and there were many over the years, I couldn’t help but feel compassion for him this season. I’m so glad he ended on a good note.

And, as Thomas himself said to Robert, “I arrived here as a boy, but I leave as a man.”

Good for you, Thomas.

Violet and Isobel

These two. Sometimes you loved them, sometimes you hated them, but all along you knew there was no other BFF for either of them. Where would Violet had been if Isobel hadn’t followed her son to town in Season One?

I absolutely loved their last grand adventure—going to rescue Dickie from the clutches of his horrible, greedy daughter-in-law, Amelia.

Violet shows herself to be a true friend when she takes the lead and marches straight into the house to confront the wretched Amelia: “You don’t need Mrs. Crawley to take him off your hands anymore, do you?”

You tell her, Vi!

I know I’ve mentioned this, but I really thought it was so sweet and so fitting (albeit a bit cheesy) that Violet and Isobel got to share the final scene. The two somehow managed to stay up until midnight to toast the New Year, looking really spry, I might add. There they sit together, BFFs, and they reflect.

As usual, Isobel is ready to take on the future with gusto, and Violet wishes she could go back to happier times. Times that aren’t ‘a changin’ quite so fast.

But they chuckle together, realizing that this is who each one is, and each accepting the other, even if they disagree on most things. Kind of reminds me of one of my own dear friends.

Isobel and Dickie

I have to go back to the Great Dickie Merton  Rescue because it was just. so. good.

Didn’t you just love how Dickie, after hearing voices in the hall, comes down the stairs in his bathrobe and tie?! Always the formal one, that Dickie.

Anyway, he’s astonished, as is pretty much everyone, that Isobel has taken matters into her hands to come and rescue him. He also realizes, finally, what his son and daughter-in-law are up to, so he packs his bags (with Izzie’s help) and hands over the keys to his pretty great house.

Dickie has left the building.

But not before he proclaims to his son, 

“Larry, as my son, I love you, but I’ve tried and failed to like you.”

And with that, Isobel and Dickie are free to live their own happy ending.

Robert and Cora

OK, just so I’m completely honest here, these two bother me. A lot. They have been such weak characters. And I think they are terrible parents. They act mainly from selfish motives (heck, their marriage was arranged for the best interests of the parties involved), until the very end.

Even in this last episode, Cora gets completely involved in her hospital work and Robert pouts like a baby because she’s not paying attention to him as much as he’d like. They’re like a couple of teenagers!

And when Edith strikes gold, literally, they can barely contain their glee.

Let’s go back to that moment, shall we? Edith calls home late at night to share her happy news. Robert gets out of bed (harrumph) to take the phone call, then comes back to share with Cora. He barrels into the bedroom saying, “You’re not going to believe it!”

And Cora, ever the supportive mother, retorts, “She’s pregnant again.”

Way to go, Cora. Mother of the Year.

They get into a little scuffle about the hospital because Robert is a selfish little baby, but Cora quickly diffuses the situation by saying, “Never mind it now. Edith is going to be happy. Just think about that.”

(And Downton is saved!)

Robert agrees with a hearty Hurrah!

Oh those two.

But I’m including them in my list because this week because there were a couple of sweet and tender moments between them.

Robert finally gets to see Cora in action at the hospital and realizes that she’s actually pretty good at her job.  

“You are a woman of real substance, and I am lucky to call you my wife.”

Now who wouldn’t want to hear that?

Later, just before midnight, Robert and Cora have a moment in the hallway. They still can’t believe that their ugly duckling has landed such good fortune (for them) and that both of their daughters are happy. Everything looks rosy and Robert asks, “What more could we want?”

“A long and happy life to watch the children grow. That’s all I ask,” 

replies Cora.

Seems like the two will be very happy in their empty nest.

Andy and Daisy

One of my favorite lines of the night: 

“Is Daisy interested in men?”

We roared at that one.

Still, you knew it would happen, didn’t you? You saw it coming, right?

And if you didn’t see it coming this entire season, you surely saw it coming when Daisy looked up . . .

. . . and saw this.

Yes, Daisy is going to let herself fall in love again. I’m sure it won’t be an easy road for poor Andy—Daisy is no pushover, that’s for sure. But I think they are a sweet match.

She even cut her hair for him!

I wish those two cuties well.

Edith and Bertie

Finally. FINALLY!

Edith gets her man.

And a good one she gets, too.

I am so happy for Edith I could just spit in Potter’s eye. (Oh wait, wrong movie.)

I’m just so happy for Edith!

Bertie had some choice lines tonight.

“Would you believe me if I said I couldn’t live without you?”

*swoon*

And even after Edith protests, suggesting that the gossip about Marigold will be all over before sundown, Bertie holds fast.

“The only thing I’m not ready for is a life without you.”

We always knew Bertie was a stand-up guy, though, didn’t we? He never had an unkind word to say about his cousin, even though he, and pretty much everyone, suspected he was gay, which would have been scandalous back in the 1920s.

Bertie’s mother, however, is an entirely different story. She blows up about Cousin Peter and his forays to Tangiers (as if we’re supposed to know what that even means). But Bertie defends the memory of dear Cousin Peter: “That’s ENOUGH, Mother!”

And Bertie will defend dear Edith too.

Edith proves to be a woman of great character in the end as well, a perfect match for upstanding Bertie, the moral center of the county, according to his mother. Edith tells Mrs. Pelham the truth about Marigold, effectively heading her off at the pass. Mrs. P isn’t happy about it, but in the end she takes the high road for the sake of her son.

And finally. That wedding.

Wasn’t Edith just the picture of beauty and happiness? Oh, that made me so happy.

(But was Mary happy? Or jealous of her sister’s happiness? Oh, who cares.)

Edith wasn’t always my favorite, but she really grew on me these last couple of seasons. I think that’s because she has grown into a mature woman—complicated, honest, compassionate, and sincere. I wish her all the best in her new life.

It’s just too bad her mother-in-law will be living down the hall.

****

I don’t have time to talk about all the others whose stories got tied up with a happy bow: Molesley and Baxter, Mr. Mason and Mrs. Patmore, Carson and Hughes (now that they’re calling each other by their first names I think they’re going to be OK), Tom and Miss Edmunds, Mary and Henry (they’re having a baby!), Anna and Bates (it's a Boy!). Perfect endings, all.

I think the only people not ending up together are Denker and Spratt.

And that’s as it should be.

*****

I want to leave you with my favorite line from the finale from, of course, Violet.

Rosamund and her mother are sitting together waiting for Edith’s wedding to start. Rosamund says, “We didn’t always think there’d be a happy ending for Edith.”

Violet responds, “Well, there’s a lot at risk, but with any luck they’ll be happy enough, which is the English version of a happy ending.”

The two sit on that for a moment. Happy enough. Is that what the English are all about?

“What do you think makes the English the way we are?” Rosamund asks her mother.

And then Violet offers this nugget of wisdom that I absolutely loved: 

“Opinions differ. Some say our history, but I blame the weather.”

*****

Thank you again, friends, for being here throughout the six seasons (well, maybe just five—I can’t remember) of my writing about Downton Abbey. It seems superficial, at times, to spend my time writing about a TV show when there are so many other, more worthy topics to write about.

Too quote Robert, Golly!

It’s been such a joy to spend these weeks with you. I hope you’ll stick with me around the blog, even though there may not be as much DA talk. (Although, I don’t think this will be my last DA post.)

Top Five Lines from Downton Abbey, S6:E8

Show of hands if you’re still wiping tears from your eyes after last Sunday’s episode.

Yep. Me too.

And another show of hands if you’re still chuckling over Mrs. Patmore’s House of Ill Repute.

Or Spratt’s double life as an advice columnist.

Bananas!

This week’s episode was probably one of my all-time favorites and will go down in Downton history as one of the most tragic, head-turning, I-sure-didn’t-see-that-coming episodes ever.

Well, except for the now infamous Robert ralphing blood scene, which I shall never forget for as long as I live. What fun!

So this week sure ran us through the gamut of emotions, didn’t it? I think, in honor of this swaying emotional episode, I’ll choose my Top Five lines from the emotions they elicited. I’m living on the edge, I know, but bear with me.

1. Glee

Robert could hardly contain himself when he found out that Edith’s beau, Bertie, was no mere estate agent. No, Bertie had a secret, which, because he is such a paragon of virtue, he had shared with Edith, but which Edith, somewhat a lesser paragon than her boyfriend, had kept to herself.

Bertie’s secret came out this week. He was the heir to his second-cousin-twice-removed’s estate—the one at which he worked as a lowly agent prior to his cousin’s untimely death. At which point Bertie became the Marquess of Somewhere.

[For those of you who, like me, might be confused as to what exactly a Marquess actually is, I looked it up for you. It’s one rank above earl (think Robert) and just below duke. So it’s a pretty big deal.]

Robert knew the implications of having a Marquess in the family. Clearly.

Golly Gumdrops!! What a turnup!!

Downton is saved!!! All the worrying and handwringing and firing of servants could now be put on hold because their Savior had arrived.

In the form of Bertie Pelham.

2. Marital bliss? Or irritability?

Robert, Cora, and Rosamund decide to help poor Mrs. Patmore clear her name—it’s as easy as having tea!—but Carson is, of course, concerned. How will this reflect on the fam?

Mrs. Hughes argues that they are all adults and can make up their own minds about whether to visit a House of Ill Repute or not.

*signal eye roll here*

Carson then deals a blow that, I’ll admit, blew me right off the sofa.

“I’ve always known women were ruthless, but I didn’t think I’d find the proof in my own wife.”

Oh boy. Mrs. Hughes looks none too pleased about that one. (And check out Daisy's "did-you-really-just-say-what-I-think-you-just-said?" look.)

And neither was I.

[Just a sec. I need to say something. Mr. Carson, you’ve been nothing but crabby and grouchy and generally ugly this season. I think you might need another season (or maybe a movie?) just to redeem yourself from your horrible behavior this year.]

I don’t know how they are going to redeem Carson with just one episode left, but I sure hope they do. Five seasons of Wonderful Carson completely eroded by one season of Demon Carson. It’s kind of surreal, but, as Mrs. Hughes would say, “There you have it.”

Later, though, Mrs. Hughes puts everything into perspective for us when she plainly tells Mr. Carson, “You’re such an old curmudgeon.” Carson wonders if she’s gone off him, but she puts him at ease.

“No, because you’re my curmudgeon and that makes all the difference.”

Illustrating that this is often the way it is in marriage.

3. Anger

Oh Edith, Edith, Edith.

And Mary, Mary, Mary.

What a terrible, terrible thing to do to your sister, Mary.

I just can’t get over the sadness of Edith’s breakup with Bertie. And I couldn’t help noticing that Edith’s contrition only made her more beautiful as she bade farewell to the second love of her life.

She didn’t scream or cry. She didn’t beg. She just told Bertie, “I understand and I’m so very sorry.”

She sure gets the last word with her sister, though, doesn’t she?

But first, Mary and Tom have it out. I absolutely loved that scene in the agent’s office when Tom confronts Mary. She deserved every single word of it.

Tom: How many lives are you going to wreck, just to smother your own misery?
Mary: I refuse to listen.
Tom: You’re a coward, Mary. Like all bullies, you’re a coward. 

And then, Edith lets her have it. You surely remember the scene in Edith’s bedroom as she’s packing to go to London. Mary comes in all “Gee, I didn’t mean to make you mad, sis. I’m sorry-not-sorry, so get over it.”

But Edith’s having none of it.

“Just shut up! I don’t know what’s happened. Tom has made you feel bad. Or Papa. Or maybe it’s just the same old Mary, who wants her cake and hate me too.”

Mary tries again. “I never meant . . .”

And we finally get to my favorite line of the night, if not the entire show, ever.

“Yes you did! . . . I know you. I know you to be a nasty, jealous, scheming b*tch! . . . You’re a b*tch! And not content with ruining your own life, you’re determined to ruin mine.”

Yeah. That.

Thanks for putting into words what we were all thinking, Edith.

4. Love.

Violet believes in it. Who knew?

Yes, Granny returns to try to set things right between her granddaughters. She knows full well their own mother is sitting on the sofa in the library reading a magazine, sipping champagne, and is entirely incapable of handling any emotional mess between her daughters.

Cora, you are an embarrassment to motherhood.

But I digress.

Didn’t you just love the sweet scene between Violet and Mary in Mary’s bedroom? Violet has huffed and puffed her way up the stairs (“Oh good! Climbing all those stairs wasn’t wasted!”) to confront and console her favorite granddaughter.

The confrontation: “You are the only woman I know who likes to think herself cold and selfish and grand. Most of us spend our lives trying to hide it.”

So Mary’s not so bad after all, Granny?

And then we get a glimpse into Violet’s heart when she consoles Mary.

“I believe in love. Brilliant careers and rich lives are seldom led without just an element of love.”

So true, Violet. But I’m not sure I would have gone so easy on Mary. She did, after all, ruin Edith’s life. Again.

But Violet gives Mary some sage advice in the end.

“I would only say this. First, make peace with your sister; then, make peace with yourself.”

Such undeserved kindness.

It must have been love that finally got to Mary because shortly after that she heads to Matthew’s grave to have a chat. I must be going soft on Mary too, because that scene made me cry buckets. And then Isobel shows up and shows such kindness to Mary that I cried some more.

A true love fest.

5. Forgiveness. Sort of.

So Matthew has forgiven Mary. And Isobel has forgiven Mary. But will Edith ever forgive Mary?

Is Mary actually sorry now?

She seems to be, but Edith totally gets her sister. She knows that Mary is only being nice because she’s happy again, and she tells Mary so.

Truthfully, I think Edith has grown so much more as a character than Mary has. Edith shows true insight into her sister’s character, and yet she also shows maturity in coming back for Mary’s wedding.

Could it be forgiveness?

Mary asks, “Why are you here?”

“Because in the end, you are my sister. And one day, only we will remember Sybil. Or Mama. Or Papa. Or Matthew or Michael. Or Granny or Carson. Nor any of the others who have peopled our youth. Until at last, our shared memories will mean more than our mutual dislike.”

Edith seems to be saying, “Let’s be real here, sister. We’re never going to be best friends, but we do have a history. And one day, nobody will remember our childhood and the people that meant the most to us except, well, us. So let’s put our big girl panties on and get over it.”

And sometimes that’s the best we can do. We forgive in our own way and we move on.

Bravo, Edith. Bravo.

*****

So what did you think of this episode? What did I miss? Let's chat in the comments!

Top Five Lines from Downton Abbey, S6:E7

We knew it couldn't last, right? Mary's happiness?

It's illusory.

Like a puff of smoke. A vapor.

Kind of like the wind that is blowing something fierce through the trees outside my house right now.

Mary was never meant to be happy. Right?

Or was she?

There are only two more episodes left, folks, and I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm sticking with my original prediction.

Because this.

(Sorry about the terrible picture quality. I clearly have tech issues.)

Anyway, Mary is delivering the worst possible news to poor Henry Tolbert (who, in case you're keeping score, lost his best friend and his girlfriend in one day), and who walks in to console her? TOM!!!

Just sayin'.

Anyway, I have to move on rather quickly (oh dear! I think I've been watching too much Downton!), so here we go with this week's Top Five Lines.

1. Dear Violet is just. so. angry. that she has to leave for a while. She thinks France will soothe her bruised ego and might allow her to actually look her daughter-in-law in the eye again.

So she divulges her plan to Isobel who discreetly proclaims, "Your self knowledge is an example to us all. .  . . How long will you be away?"

Violet replies, "Until nostalgia has smothered my fury." (Don't you just love that one?)

But there's more! Violet assures Isobel that she will pay a call on dear Larry's conniving fiance, Miss Crookshank before she leaves town. Gotta leave a little dust in her wake, I guess. 

Isobel suspects that Miss Crookshank is "quite a tough nut," but Violet is not worried. 

"And I am quite a tough nutcracker."

I'm sure you are, Violet. I'm sure you are.

2. Later, Violet meets with Miss C, just as she promised. And we have to wonder, has Violet met her match?

But not to worry. No little fiance of a two-bit loser like Larry is going to get under Violet's skin. She outs her for the little conniving brat that she is--the girl only wants Isobel to marry Lord Merton so that she won't have to take care of him!

"You’re a cool little miss, aren’t you?," says Violet. "I’d feel sorry for Larry if I didn’t dislike him so much."

Miss Crookshank isn't deterred. "I shall forget you said that. But you should go now. Much more and we may feel awkward when we meet, as we are bound to do."

Violet, however, gets the last word, as usual. 

"I think not, Miss Crookshank. 

Not if I see you first."

3. If you've read here for a while, you know I love to travel. You meet the most interesting people along the way. Some are friendly; some notsomuch.

As a fellow traveler, I could not resist laughing so hard at this (final) line of Violet's.

"My reason for traveling is to make myself eager to come home. A month among the French should manage it."

4. How about Carson and Hughes alone in the house together? It looks like this is quite possibly the first time ever in twenty-five years that the two have had the house alone. Completely alone.

And what do those wacky newlyweds decide to do? Sit on the sofa!

Carson blusters about for a minute, not sure if he should take the time to just enjoy himself, but his wife (I still don't see them as married--do you?) convinces him to just sit down.

They sit.

Mrs. Hughes observes, "They don’t live badly, you have to concede."

But Mr. Carson must always keep things in "proper" perspective. (*killjoy*)

"They live as they are supposed to live. It has its burdens and its benefits."

But I love how Mrs. Hughes has a further observation. "Better than a life of just burden."

That's for sure! 

5. Finally, I have to congratulate Mr. Molesley for being smarter than an Oxford (or Cambridge) graduate. He passed his test with flying colors and it looks like he's headed toward a new career as a teacher.

As a long time Molesley fan, I couldn't be happier that this dear man is finally getting some recognition.

Daisy is happy for him, too. After a brief discussion about the future for those "in service," during which Molesley is beaming that he got a head start out of there, Daisy congratulates him.

"Well, I'm glad," she tells him. "You deserve it."

Humble Mr. Molesley. In a moment of self-reflection he laughs and says, 

"I never think I deserve anything. . . . 

Perhaps I’ve been wrong all along."

Oh yes you have been, Mr. Molesley. Yes you have.

6. I'm sorry, but this one was just too good to pass up. Did you not love the little trick that Mrs. Hughes played on Mr. Carson? I only wish I had thought of doing something like that early on in my marriage.

Oh wait. I did. It's called leaving three kids with my husband while I go out of town for the weekend. Ha! 

Anyway, Mrs. Hughes has had it with Mr. Carson's complaints about her dinners. It's HARD to get dinner on the table, especially after working all day. So she feigns a sprained wrist or something and tells her hubby that she couldn't possibly cook dinner tonight.

And Carson delivers the best line possibly EVER on DA:

You mean . . . I’m going to cook?

Yes you are, Mr. Carson. And you're going to LIKE it.

*****

Bonus: This isn't so much a line, but one of my favorite moments of this episode.

Robert's turned into a Zombie!!

Not really. He's just gotten a huge surprise from his mother.

Isn't she adorable?! There's nothing like a lab puppy, take it from me. 

(Ten points if you remember the name of the new puppy.)

And with that, I'm out.

I'm heading to the Illinois State Speech Tournament tomorrow where my daughter will be performing in TWO events. I'm almost as pleased as Robert. 

Have a great weekend!

Top Five Lines from Downton Abbey :: S6, E6

Oh boy, you guys. It's late and I need to get to bed, but I HAVE GOT to get this post written before tomorrow. It's going to be a quick one this week because, honestly, I don't think that much actually happened. You can just tell that the writers are trying so hard to wrap everything up that they don't want to begin any new story lines so they just keep dragging the old ones out. 

(Yes, I'm talking about the hospital situation. Good grief, finish it already! We all know Big Government comes to England much sooner than it does to America. But, hello, we're all caught up now.)

Anyway. 

Two story lines really made me laugh this week--the Newlyweds and the House Tour. 

1. Let's get on with the Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes banter. Oh my!

Let me just say that I get a wife wanting to keep the peace in her home, but Mrs. Hughes . . . Honey . . . Darling . . . you have GOT to begin to speak up or else your brute of a husband (I'm sorry, but Mr. Carson was an absolute wretch this week!) will walk all over you. 

Carson picks on Mrs. Hughes about everything from knowing how to make coffee to how she makes the bed to how she cooks dinner, and, to make matters worse, he keeps asking her if she's talked to Mrs. Patmore about how to cook! 

I loved the dinner scene where there was no condiment for the smoked salmon. And no wine! (Because, of course, if the master of the house can't drink wine, neither should his butler.)

The two pretty much cast aside the unappetizing salmon and then Mr. Carson asks what's next. When he finds out they are having duck he asks, "Is the skin crispy like Mrs. Patmore does it? Did you ask her advice?" 

Mrs. Hughes replies, "We certainly talked about what it’s like to cook dinner for you."

Carson, not getting a clue, preens his feathers and says, "I bet she had a lot to say." 

To which Mrs. Hughes quietly replies,  

"We both did."

Personally, I think Mrs. Hughes is the picture of restraint. I'd be sending him to the MOON!!!

2. The House Tour.

All of Downton Abbey is in a tizzy over the house tour this week (when they're not in a tizzy about the hospital being taken over by Big Gov). 

Violet and Isobel, arch enemies AND tea partners, talk about the merits of having people pay money to come through your house. Isobel gets it--people want to see how the other half lives--but Violet doesn't see the attraction at all.

"Roll up! Roll up! Visit an actual dining room complete with a real life table and chairs!"

Isobel reminds her that "people have always tipped the butler to look ‘round the house. Even Miss Bennet wanted to see what Pemberly was like inside."

But once again, Vi gets the last word. "A decision which caused her a great deal of embarrassment if I recall the novel correctly."

3. Robert doesn't get it either. (And don't you just love that Robert never moves from the bed this entire episode?!) 

He's talking to Carson about the house tour, chuckling to himself while squirming from his surgical pain. 

"What on earth can we show them to give them their money’s worth? Lady Grantham knitting? Lady Mary in the bath?"

[Note: the last word must be drawn out like baaaahth.]

Carson just shoots him an incredulous look and walks out.

4. The big moment has finally arrived and the people show up for the Grand Downton House Tour.

(P.S. Anybody else think this gets a little meta? I mean, people DO this. Now. Today. In fact, this whole scenario brought back warm memories of my time in the Midlands when Caroline and I toured Chatsworth House--one of the great houses of England that is very much worth your time.)

Anyway, could you believe those ninnys? They knew nothing about their own house!

So, a collection of my favorite blunders from the house tour.

*****

Girl asks, pointing to a huge painting on the wall: "Who painted that?"

Cora: I’m not sure. But this . . . (leading them to another painting) . . . is a Reynolds, so that is worth looking at. (Pointing to another painting behind her) That’s quite good too.

Poor Cora. I just want to pat her on the head.

*****

Later it was Edith's turn.

Man: What about the architect?

Edith: Oh yes. Sir Charles Barry. Yes. He built the houses of parliament. . . . Or at least he finished them. . . . and, you know, he built lots of lovely buildings.

*****

Mary doesn't fare much better. We walk into her room to find her saying, "No, that’s him. I think. Or his son. Or it might be his father."

She obviously doesn't have a clue. 

But Violet rescues her as she comes storming in.

Mary, after thanking God that Granny was here, asks what she knows about the library.

“The library was assembled by the fourth Earl. He loved books.

Mary then asks, "What else did he collect?"

Violet responds: 

"Horses and women."

5. Finally, I really loved the little scene between Robert (still in bed!) and the little boy who wanders into his room. 

The boy asks, “Why is your house so big?”

Robert can’t answer. He really has no idea.

So the boy asks a logical question: "Why not buy someplace comfy? You must have enough money."

Robert looks at him with just a touch of melancholy and replies, 

"Maybe, but you know how it is. You like what you’re used to."

And the Grantham clan really does like it. 

Better enjoy it while you've got it, Crawleys, because before you know it, my daughters and I are going to come clanging on your doorbell asking for a tour. 

We'll pay. We've got money.