Speaker A
Foreign.
Downton Abbey Series 1 Episode 1 introduces the Crawley family and staff amid tragedy and estate changes.
Ask about this video. Answers come from its transcript only — with the timestamp, so you can check them.
Generated from the transcript and can be wrong — check the timestamp.
Key Takeaways
- The sinking of the ship sets the central conflict for the episode.
- Inheritance laws and family titles are crucial to the plot.
- Introduction of key characters including John Bates and household staff.
- Social and class structures are emphasized through interactions.
- The estate faces uncertainty and change following the tragedy.
What the video covers
- The episode opens with the household waking up and managing daily routines.
- News arrives about a tragic ship sinking affecting the Crawley family.
- Mr. Crawley and his son Patrick are reported missing, complicating inheritance.
- Lady Mary faces the implications of the deaths on family titles and estate.
- New valet John Bates arrives and is introduced to the household staff.
- The staff discuss their duties and the challenges of maintaining the estate.
- The family and staff prepare for mourning and the social consequences.
- Tensions arise about inheritance laws and the future of Downton Abbey.
- The episode highlights class distinctions and the dynamics between upstairs and downstairs.
- The Dowager Countess and other key characters react to the unfolding crisis.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Foreign.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Oh my God, that's impossible! I'll take it up there now.
Speaker A
Don't be stupid. One of them will be up for hours. What difference will it make? Jimmy will do it when he comes in.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
[Applause]
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
It, thank you Daisy. Anna, oh, so once in my life I like to sleep until I woke up natural. Is your father's still in? Have you like the service or breakfast?
Speaker A
Yes, Mrs. Batman. I'm finished blocking that stone.
Speaker A
Yes, it's Batman. What about the bedroom fires?
Speaker A
Oh, witnesses on the ground floor.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Thank you.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
[Applause]
Speaker A
Now hurry up.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Thank you.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Any son of William?
Speaker A
No.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Where have you been? I'm not late, am I?
Speaker A
You're late when I say you're late.
Speaker A
Desert, what's up? What are you doing there crouching in the dark?
Speaker A
You weren't here and I didn't like to touch your curtains with my dirty hands.
Speaker A
I'm quite right too. Why didn't you put the lights on?
Speaker A
I didn't. Well, it's electricity, not the devil's, and they work.
Speaker A
I'll have to get used to it sooner or later. Skelton Park, they've even got it in the kitchens.
Speaker A
Well, far.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Breakfast is ready, Mr. Carson.
Speaker A
Yeah, William, any papers yet?
Speaker A
They're late, but certainly are. Get the board out so you can do them as soon as they're here.
Speaker A
It's a library tidy, yes, Mrs. Hughes?
Speaker A
Good. I want the dining room given a proper going over today. You can do it when they finish their breakfast.
Speaker A
Oh heavens, girl, you're building a fire, not inventing it.
Speaker A
How many of you down? This is my last till to come downstairs.
Speaker A
Very well. I'll get back down to the kitchens before anyone sees you.
Speaker A
Foreign.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
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Speaker A
You're late.
Speaker A
Yeah, I know, but what you'll see.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Do the times first. The only reason and the sketch for her leadership. You can manage the others later if need be.
Speaker A
Why the papers ironed? What's it to you?
Speaker A
To dry the ink, silly. We won't want his large ship sans to be as black as yours.
Speaker A
Foreign.
Speaker A
I think you ought to see this. I can't make myself believe it. I mean, I've, there's lot of chips dressed.
Speaker A
William, will you stop talking and take this kajuri up? And minor burners are still lit?
Speaker A
Yes, they're really true fragile, sure.
Speaker A
[Music]
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Thank you.
Speaker A
[Music]
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Good morning, Carson.
Speaker A
Good morning, my Lord. Is it true what they're saying?
Speaker A
I believe so, my Lord.
Speaker A
I'm afraid we'll know some people on it.
Speaker A
I don't suppose there are any lists of survivors yet?
Speaker A
I understand most of the ladies were taken off in time.
Speaker A
You mean the ladies in first class?
Speaker A
God help the poor devils below decks on their way to a better life.
Speaker A
What a tragedy. Renata told me. I thought she must have dreamed it.
Speaker A
Do we know anyone on board?
Speaker A
Your mother knows the Asters. At least she knows him. We dined with Lady Rothers last month.
Speaker A
They're about to be others. Every mountain is unclimbable until someone climbs it.
Speaker A
So every ship is unsinkable until it sinks.
Speaker A
What's that? Just arrived telegram.
Speaker A
[Music]
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There's a ladyship awake?
Speaker A
Yes, I'm just going to take another episode. Thank you.
Speaker A
Hello, may I come in?
Speaker A
Foreign.
Speaker A
When you think how excited Lucy Rothas was at the prospect, it's too off and words.
Speaker A
Did JJ Astro get off?
Speaker A
Where's that new wife of his?
Speaker A
Was found. We've been rescued. I've had a telegram from George Murray. One of his partners is in New York.
Speaker A
Yes, it seems James and Patrick are on board.
Speaker A
What? I've been, they were not going over till May. I'm gonna change their plans.
Speaker A
They're definitely on the passenger list.
Speaker A
Thank you, Brian. That'll be all for the moment.
Speaker A
But surely they were picked up, neither of them?
Speaker A
You must tell Mary. She can't hear about it from anyone else.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
Neither of them were picked up. That's what he said. Mr. Crawley and Mr. Patrick.
Speaker A
That's what he said. The leadership was the color of this cloth.
Speaker A
Well, it's a terrible shame if it's true.
Speaker A
It's worse than a shame. It's a complication.
Speaker A
What do you mean?
Speaker A
What do you think? Mr. Crawley was his lordship's cousin and heir to the title.
Speaker A
But I thought Lady Mary was here.
Speaker A
She was a girl. Stupid girls can't inherit.
Speaker A
But now is the crawl is dead and Mr. Patrick was his only son.
Speaker A
So what happens next?
Speaker A
Is it dreadful thing?
Speaker A
Hello, I've been waiting at the back door.
Speaker A
Try not, but no one came, so you pushed in.
Speaker A
I'm John Bates, the new ballad, the new valet.
Speaker A
That's right. You're early.
Speaker A
Okay, I'm on the milk train. Thought I'd use the day to get to know the place. Start tonight.
Speaker A
I'm Anna, the head housemaid. How do you do?
Speaker A
And I'm Miss O'Brien, the ladyship's maid. You better come along with us.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
How can you manage?
Speaker A
Don't worry about that. I can manage because we've all got our own work to do.
Speaker A
I can manage all right. This is huge. I'll take it.
Speaker A
Thank you.
Speaker A
Good morning, Mr. Bates. Welcome. I hope your journey was satisfactory.
Speaker A
It was fine, thank you.
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I am the butler at Downton. My name is Carson.
Speaker A
How do you do, Mr. Carson?
Speaker A
This is Thomas, first footman. He's been looking after his lordship since Mr. Watson left.
Speaker A
It'll be a relief to get back to normal, won't it, Thomas?
Speaker A
I assume that everything is ready for Mr. Bates's arrival.
Speaker A
I put him in Mr. Watson's old room, though he left it in quite a state, I can tell you.
Speaker A
But what about upstairs?
Speaker A
I keep telling you I can manage.
Speaker A
Of course you can, Thomas. Take Mr. Bates to his room. Show him where he'll be working.
Speaker A
Thank you, everyone.
Speaker A
Well, I can't see that lasting long.
Speaker A
Thank you, Miss O'Brien.
Speaker A
[Music]
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[Music]
Speaker A
Foreign.
Speaker A
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Speaker A
I should be comfortable here.
Speaker A
Does this mean I'll have to go into full mourning?
Speaker A
My first cousin and his son, not almost certainly dead.
Speaker A
You will all be in mourning?
Speaker A
No, I mean with the other thing. After all, it wasn't official.
Speaker A
If you're saying you do not wish to mourn Patrick as a fiancé, that is up to you.
Speaker A
Well, no one knew about it outside the family.
Speaker A
No, repeat, it is up to you.
Speaker A
Well, that's a relief.
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
[Music]
Speaker A
There's some sea lion cupboards in the attic for things that aren't often worn, traveling clothes and such.
Speaker A
Mr. Watson used them to rotate the summer and winter stuff. I'll show you later.
Speaker A
What about studs and links? Do I choose them or does he play them out?
Speaker A
Unless he asks for something in particular, at least for a ball, he's for an ordinary dinner, he's only in London.
Speaker A
I'll get the hang of it.
Speaker A
Yeah, you'll have to stuff boxes. He collects them. Beautiful, funny, odd job, isn't it?
Speaker A
What do you mean? The way we live with all this pirate's hoard within our reach, but none of it's ours, is it?
Speaker A
No, none of it's house.
Speaker A
I can't believe they've been passed over for Long John Silver.
Speaker A
You should have spoken up when you had the chance. Don't make the same mistake next time.
Speaker A
It says it'll be next time.
Speaker A
Is this a public holiday and no one's told me off?
Speaker A
Certainly reluctant to go into mourning.
Speaker A
Well, she'll have to. We all will.
Speaker A
A Brian's sorting out my black now and I told Anna to see what the girls have but still fits, of course.
Speaker A
This alters everything. You won't try to deny it.
Speaker A
Must musky and tail now, sure.
Speaker A
Can't we at least wait until we know they're dead before we discuss it?
Speaker A
Don't talk as if I'm not broken-hearted because I am, of course.
Speaker A
I've never understood why this estate was good whomever inherits your title idea.
Speaker A
I don't make the law.
Speaker A
What is it?
Speaker A
The Dowager Countess is in the drawing room.
Speaker A
I'll come now.
Speaker A
She asked for Lady Grantham.
Speaker A
I wonder what I've done wrong this time.
Speaker A
I'm the new ballot has arrived, my Lord.
Topics:Downton AbbeyBritish dramaperiod dramainheritanceestateCrawley familyJohn Batesmourningearly 20th centuryupstairs downstairs
