Top Ten Lines from Downton Abbey Season 3, Episode 7 – It’s All About Family
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**Spoiler alert** Do not read further if you haven't watched the Season 3 Finale. This post does contain spoilers.
Well now, how’s everyone doing? Recovered from last night’s
drama yet?
I know, I know, it’s hard to remember, but you must remind
yourself that this is fiction. It’s just fiction. Tell yourself over and over
again, if you must, but what happened on the season finale is just fiction.
Reminds me of when B and I were dating. He’d take me to the
movies, and whenever things got a little tense or emotional he’d lean over to
me and say, “It’s just light on a screen, Shelly. Light on a screen.” I never
really bought it—my emotions were real, so the drama must have been, in some
way, real to me. But I nodded my head and tried to tell myself, “It’s just
light on a screen.”
I just watched the episode for the second time, and I think
it was more sad even the second time around. I caught so much more of the
subtlety and the rhythm and the theme of family and love and friendship. You
should really go to the PBS website and watch the episode again.
If you can bear it.
So Season 3 is over and now we have to wait another year for
what will, I hope, be several new, happy beginnings for many of the characters.
This season was such a season of loss; I truly hope next season is a season of
happiness. But then, Julian Fellowes is known for surprising us. I’m sure that
whatever he has in store will be a great surprise.
So let’s get on with it—my top ten lines from Episode 7,
better known as the
episode-in-which-everyone-including-Tom-and-Robert-and-Thomas-and-Mrs.
Patmore-make-peace-with-Downton.
Number 10. I have to start toward the end, during the dance
in Scotland. Mr. Molesley has had a bit too much of the Scotch whisky and he’s
dancing his heart out. Robert and Violet are looking on.
Robert: They do say
there’s a wild man inside all of us.
Violet: If only he would stay inside.
Those of us who know my last name will know why I chose that
line. *wink*
Number 9. Of course, my lady Violet had some great lines
this week, as she always does. This exchange took place toward the beginning,
as the family has arrived in Scotland to spend ten days with Shrimpy’s family.
His shrew wife, Susan, greets Violet at the door.
Susan: Oh, Violet, we feel so privileged to have lured you
this far north.
Violet: Oh, dear, you
flatter me, which is just as it should be.
Number 8: Later, Violet and Susan are walking together.
Violet asks about Shrimpy’s upcoming colonial post.
Violet: Do you know where it will be?
Susan: No, but it will be filthy and dirty and the food will
be awful and there will be no one to talk to for a hundred square miles.
Violet: That sounds
like a week with my mother-in-law.
Number 7: Oh Edith. Edith, Edith, Edith. Will you never
learn? Honestly, I think Edith has worse luck in the love department than
anyone I’ve ever known.
(Wait. Did I just say that? Like she’s real or something?
Light on a screen, Shelly. Light on a screen.)
So her editor, Michael Gregson, turns up in Scotland. He
just happens to be in the neighborhood and would like to hang out with the
family. Mary is skeptical, as Mary usually is about anyone who would be
interested in Edith, but this time, Mary is right.
Matthew isn’t convinced, and when Gregson turns up for
dinner, he has a great remark for Mary: "What
a disappointment. He looks perfectly normal."
Later, in bed, Mary and Matthew discuss Edith’s love life
for about the millionth time.
Mary: He probably took reeling classes before he left
London.
Matthew: Don’t
dislike him before you even know him. That’s a hallmark of our parents’
generation, and I forbid it.
Stay tuned . . .
Number 6. I won’t get into the whole
staff-who-stays-behind-and-goes-to-the-fair business. It’s kind of overly
complicated, although I did enjoy seeing what goes on when the family is away.
Anyway, the staff does all go to the fair in Thirsk (well, all but one), and as they’re heading
out, Alfred bumps into Mr. Carson in the hallway. I absolutely loved Carson’s response.
Alfred: You don’t want to come to the fair?
Carson: I would sooner chew broken glass.
Carson: I would sooner chew broken glass.
So there. Harumph.
But wasn’t Carson absolutely adorable with Sybie? I loved
the scene when he was just waiting in the hallway outside of her bedroom for
her to cry. He goes in, lifts her out of her crib, and says, “Oh now, what’s the matter? Let’s have a
little chat about it.”
Adorable.
Number 5. So there’s something amiss in the Shrimpy
household, that is made perfectly clear. Rose is miserable. Shrimpy is miserable.
And Susan is just a miserable shrew.
It has become clear that Shrimpy will most likely be
stationed somewhere in India, and he’s had a moment to discuss it with it
Violet who, not surprisingly, has some strong opinions about Rose.
Violet:Will you take Rose?
Shrimpy: I don’t think we should, but Susan won’t discuss
it.
Violet: Unless you’d
like her to be married to a third rate Colonial official with no money and bad
teeth, Susan had better think again.
Ah, Violet, why don’t you tell us how you really feel?
Number 4: I love Violet’s more tender moments, and this was
one of my favorites of this episode. Vi and Cora are discussing the tensions in
the Shrimpy household, specifically things between Rose and her mother. Cora is reminded of her own struggles with Sybil.
Violet: We knew things were awkward between them, but now
that I’m here I don’t think Susan handles it very well.
Cora: But it’s so complicated with a young daughter with new
ideas. She thinks you’re fighting her when all the time you’re just frightened
and . . . I’m sorry.
Violet: We all miss her. Every single day.
Yes, Violet, we all do still miss her, too.
Number 3:
One of my favorite plot lines this week was with
Mrs. Hughes and Tom. Poor Tom has been through the wringer this week, just
trying to figure out his place in the upper class world. Housemaid Edna wasn’t
making things any easier on him, that’s for sure, what with all the following
him around and meeting him at the pub and kissing him when he had his shirt
off. Good grief, Edna, don’t you know your place?
Obviously not.
So Tom offers to drive everyone to the fair, donning his chauffeur hat just for old time’s sake. He asks Mrs. Hughes what time they’re
leaving, and Mrs. Hughes tells him he doesn’t have to go.
Tom: Why? Because I’m so high and mighty now?
Mrs. Hughes: You’re part of the family now. There’s nothing
false in that.
Tom: I know.
Mrs. Hughes: I hope you do, because if someone is trying to
make you feel awkward, they are in the wrong, not you.
Later, after Edna has been sacked, Mrs. Hughes takes a
moment to talk to Tom in the library.
Mrs. Hughes: Would you allow me to speak as I would have in
the old days?
Tom: Go ahead then.
Mrs. Hughes: You let Edna make you ashamed of your new life.
But you’ve done well. And Lady Sybil would be so proud.
Tom (crying): I can’t bear to be without her.
Mrs. Hughes sits and takes his hand: You must bear it. And
one day I hope, and so would she, you’ll find someone to bear it with you. But
until then, be your own master and call your own tune.
[Note: this is the only word that I just couldn’t get. Thanks to Megan at Fried Okra for helping me out with that!]
So sweet to see Tom and Mrs. Hughes have that moment
together. Mrs. Hughes is kind of like a mother to many of the younger staff,
and it was nice to see her take that role with Tom as well. I just loved it.
Number 2:
Well, well, well. Robert does have a moment of
epiphany, doesn’t he? Remember in the billiard room with Shrimpy? Shrimpy tells
Robert his tale of financial devastation, and he is basically recounting
Robert’s very own tale, had Matthew not stepped in to save them all.
Robert has much to think about.
Later that night, as he and Cora are going to bed, he tells
her what he’s come to learn.
Robert: I can’t wait to get home.
Cora: Aren’t you enjoying your Victorian idyll any longer?
Robert: I’m glad I was jealous of Shrimpy. It’s made me
realize what a fool I’ve been. Downton will survive because of Matthew’s
vision.
Cora: I’m so pleased to hear you say it.
Robert: You always knew how lucky we are in Matthew, and now
I give thanks for him as I give thanks for my home and my family. And most of all, I give thanks for my wife.
I think they’ve all learned some lessons over the past year,
but this episode made it clear that they have all come to love and appreciate
what they have: family.
Number 1: And speaking of family. Matthew and Mary’s little
family grew last night, didn’t it? And then got promptly reduced in size (for
which, I have heard, many will never watch Downton Abbey again, myself not
included).
But before the size reduction took place, there was this very
sweet exchange in the hospital between Matthew and Mary.
Matthew: You are going to be such a wonderful mother.
Mary: How do you know?
Matthew: Because you are such a wonderful woman.
Mary: I hope I’m allowed to be your Mary Crawley for all
eternity, and not Edith’s version or any one else’s for that matter.
Matthew: You’ll be my Mary always. Because mine is the true Mary.
It was like a send-off. Mary has always been conscious of
other peoples’ perception of her, but Matthew assures her that she is just
enough, just as she is. And that, my friends, is unconditional love.
Their love story may be over for now, Matthew may be gone, but
his words of love will ring in Mary’s ears forever. They may be just what she
needs to go home and raise this little boy on her own. Words to give her the
confidence to be the mother that this boy will need. Words of love that Mary
will need as she moves ahead, alone.
Season 3, I’ve loved you, hated you, dreaded you, and
anticipated you every week. You have never ceased to surprise me. Thank you for
the few hours of joy you have given to me and to my friends and my family. It’s
been fun, tragic, comical, and sad. I will miss you and will look forward to
your sister, Season 4.
So let's talk. Tell me what you thought of the season finale in the Comments.
To read the rest of my Downton Abbey Top Five (or Ten) lines:
Season 3, Episode 1
Season 3, Episode 2
Season 3, Episode 3
Season 3, Episode 4
Season 3, Episode 5
Season 3, Episode 6
