'Downton Abbey' Recap: Season 1 Episode 2

Downton Abbey airs Sundays at 9:00 pm and is available to stream by WTTW Passport members. Recap the previous and following episodes.
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It is now March 1913. Mr. Carson is alarmed by a letter he has just received. Bates, walking in the village a few minutes later, observes him hurrying furtively into a pub. 

At the village hospital, the chief surgeon Dr. Clarkson is giving Isobel a tour. As she is expounding on her nursing experience, they encounter a sobbing young woman – the woman’s husband, farmer John Drake, is deathly ill with dropsy, coughing up blood. Isobel asks if she can help. Clarkson demurs, dismissing Drake’s case as hopeless.

Back at Crawley House, a downcast Molesley tells his friend Bates that the bourgeois Matthew doesn’t appreciate him or want his valet services. “He chooses his own clothes,” Molesley laments.

In the kitchen at Downton, Anna observes Mr. Carson hurriedly collecting food. He drops some potatoes and flustered, makes an excuse to Anna before he scurries off with his bag. Later, he tries to get her to keep silent about what she saw. At the servants’ lunch, O’Brien is loudly holding forth about having to “bow and scrape” to Matthew (“this Mr. Nobody from Nowhere”) when Cora suddenly appears and sharply rebukes her – he is the family’s heir, and deserves respect.

Back at the hospital, to Clarkson’s surprise, Isobel has taken over Drake’s treatment, and suggests that the fluid around his heart be drained and he be given a shot of adrenaline – a relatively new procedure. Clarkson is reluctant as he’s never done it. Later at Violet’s home, Clarkson complains to her about Isobel’s “meddling.”

Dining at Downton that evening, Isobel shares the story with the family, who clearly think she’s overstepping. And Mary snidely attempts to make Matthew uncomfortable by discussing the story of Perseus and Andromeda, implying that Matthew is the “sea monster” in the tale. Slyly, he turns the tables on her: he knows the story better than she does, and thinks she has missed the point.

Downstairs, William is playing the piano. Thomas offers to teach Daisy the “Grizzly Bear” dance as the others laugh and clap. This brief moment of fun is quickly interrupted by Mrs. Patmore, who orders Daisy off to bed, but not before we see that Daisy has an enormous crush on Thomas. (Oh, girl…you are in for a disappointment.)

Upstairs, the guests are departing. To Violet, Matthew expresses sympathy for Mary’s plight. In response, Violet wonders how Matthew would react if the entail was set aside and everything went to Mary instead of him. Puzzled, he replies that he would accept it with grace. “Would you?” asks Violet, the wheels turning in her head.

Medicine, Typewriters, and Stage Acts

The next day, Bates and Anna are alone in the servants hall when the front doorbell rings. Everyone else is out, so it falls to Bates to answer the door. A shady-looking character tells Bates he has some “interesting information” for Lord Grantham and, after being told that he is not at home, snidely insists that “Charlie Carson” is the real butler and steamrolls past Bates into the library, saying he’ll wait. Bates sends Anna on the double to find Carson. Robert arrives and shortly after, Anna with Carson. The man, whose name is Charles Grigg, reveals that he and Carson were a “double act” on the stage – “The Cheerful Charlies.” Carson admits that he has been feeding Grigg from the kitchens and offers to resign. Grigg, smugly making himself at home, assumes he’s in for a big payout. Calmly, Robert brushes off Carson’s resignation and hands Grigg 20 pounds, warning him to get lost – permanently – or he’ll be arrested for extortion. After a few parting shots about the upper classes, Grigg departs in a huff. Carson is humiliated, but Robert is intrigued by Carson’s secret past. Later, Bates hints to Anna that he has a few skeletons in his own closet. Anna, crushing big time, insists that it wouldn’t matter to her; Bates assures her it would.

Cora and Violet, at tea, are gossiping about Isobel interfering with Clarkson’s work when Cora mentions that she has just seen the woman in question headed toward the hospital looking “extremely determined.” “Not as determined as I am,” retorts Violet in a fury, rising from the table.

At the hospital, Isobel is holding the vial of adrenaline, urging Clarkson to try it in an attempt to save Drake’s life. She shames him into going ahead with this “dangerous” procedure. Just as Mrs. Drake tearfully agrees to it, Violet sweeps in and makes several attempts to stop Clarkson, but he goes ahead and miraculously, it works. (To her credit, Isobel doesn’t gloat.) Later, Robert suggests that Isobel be made chairman of the board with Violet remaining as president. Clarkson, knowing Violet will balk at relinquishing her power, thinks that will not go over well. Robert later urges Matthew to accept and value Molesley’s services. And going forward, we see Matthew doing just that.

Later as the Crawley daughters are heading to the hospital for the ceremony naming Isobel chairman, Edith expresses an interest in Matthew, telling Mary that she “doesn’t dislike him as much as [Mary] does.” And William, clearly smitten with Daisy, asks her to walk to the hospital with him. But she only has eyes for Thomas. (Again, girl…).

At the ceremony as the family and villagers look on and Isobel is named to her new post, Clarkson proclaims that the partnership of “two such doughty champions” can only benefit the hospital. Isobel appears delighted. Violet…not so much.

A few days later at the village post office, Bates receives a mysterious document and almost bumps into Gwen, there to mail a mysterious parcel. Neither reveals anything.

Back at Downton, Gwen returns to the room she shares with Anna to discover the latter struggling to move Gwen’s heavy packing case from the top of the armoire. Gwen is cagey about what’s in it; Anna demands an answer. It turns out to be a typewriter. Gwen has secretly been taking a course in typing and shorthand – she dreams of leaving service to become a secretary. O’Brien almost catches them with it.

Out on the grounds, Cora finds Mary reading a letter from Evelyn Napier, an eligible young man she met at the races. He’s coming to Yorkshire to hunt and will be staying with friends at a pub. Cora, ever eager to matchmake, insists that Mary invite him to stay at Downton. Violet and Cora are excited about the prospect, but Robert opines that Evelyn is a “dull dog.” Still, he has money, and if Mary isn’t interested in Matthew, Violet and Cora are all for a match with Evelyn. Later, a letter arrives from Evelyn accepting the invitation; he is bringing a friend along – an attaché from the Turkish embassy named Kamal Pamuk. Cora insists that Mary should go foxhunting with them both. Mary isn’t keen.

Edith is walking in the village when she encounters Matthew on his bicycle, returning from work. She proposes taking him on an architectural tour of the local churches followed by a picnic. Matthew agrees, but is baffled by Edith’s sudden interest in him, and Mary later sneers at her for being “too obvious.”

Downstairs in the servants hall, Gwen’s typewriter is on full display – evidently, O’Brien discovered it and has outed her to the rest of the staff. Carson reacts to the typewriter as if it were a live grenade, and when Gwen discovers it out in the open, she is furious. She is forced to reveal her plan to leave service for a clerical position. The staff is insulted (is service not good enough for her?), but Anna loyally stands up for her.

Bates walks into a shop that sells prosthetic limbs and speaks with a surly shopkeeper about an item he has seen advertised: a “limp corrector.” The shopkeeper produces a scary-looking metal leg brace with screws, warning that it will only work if Bates uses it daily. Bates purchases it.

Isobel and Matthew receive an invitation to dinner for the evening Evelyn and Pamuk will be visiting.“Two young men to be flung at Mary, presumably,” says Isobel dryly. “When it comes to Mary,” replies Matthew, “she’s perfectly capable of doing her own flinging, I assure you.” Isobel laughs.

Back at Downton, Gwen weeps, overwhelmed by the challenge of leaving service. Anna and Bates comfort her. As Bates leaves, we see him recoiling in pain as he walks. Mrs. Hughes notices, but Bates insists he’s fine.

The Foxhunt and a Tale of Two Suitors

Cut to the morning of the foxhunt, in front of the estate. Most of the participants, including Mary, have gathered on horseback in full riding regalia. Mary and Evelyn chat about Pamuk, who has yet to arrive. Mary is expecting “a funny little foreigner with a wide toothy grin and hair reeking of pomade.” But Pamuk turns out to be anything but. (He’s played by Theo James – enough said.) Mary is dazzled, Pamuk is intrigued, some heavy flirting ensues, and Evelyn regrets bringing him along. 

Meanwhile, Edith and Matthew are touring a church. He is clearly an architecture enthusiast and she is bored, continually trying to bring the conversation around to a possible relationship. He dodges that by asking her about Mary and the foxhunt. “Oh, Mary likes to be in at the kill,” Edith tells him bitterly. Oblivious, Matthew strides off, inquiring about the next church on their list. Crestfallen, Edith trails after.

Thomas has been assigned to Pamuk as a valet, and as he is helping him dress, Thomas takes a disastrous gamble and makes an unwise advance. Pamuk, incensed, promises to say nothing about Thomas’s behavior if he agrees to help him navigate the house later.

At dinner, Mary flirts outrageously with Pamuk. Evelyn and Matthew look on ruefully, outmatched. As Pamuk draws Mary away, Edith approaches Matthew about another date. Matthew, hedging, insists they bring his mother along next time. Poor Edith; this is the kiss of death.

Pamuk has lured Mary into the library, ostensibly to examine a valuable painting. But Pamuk pushes Mary against the wall and kisses her forcefully instead. Mary angrily tells him off and, threatening to expose his indiscretion to her father, storms out.

But later that night when Mary is reading in bed, Pamuk suddenly appears in his bathrobe, having been guided to her room by Thomas. Mary protests, but Pamuk is persuasive, and soon they are on the bed. Mary asks fearfully, “Is it safe?” Pamuk doesn’t answer, but intent on getting what he wants, doesn’t pull back either.

Cut to a sleeping Anna, who is suddenly roused by a nightgown-clad Mary. Back in Mary’s bedroom, Anna is thunderstruck to find Pamuk, lifeless, naked, and sprawled face-down on Mary’s bed. Mary, traumatized, explains that during the act, Pamuk suddenly cried out and then collapsed. As Anna struggles to process what could be a huge scandal, one thing is abundantly clear: they must quickly move Pamuk’s body back to his room, but can’t manage it alone. After dismissing a few possible helpers, Anna asks Mary who has as much to lose as she does if the story were to get out.

Cut to a shocked Cora, gaping in horror at Pamuk’s corpse. She has a few choice words for Mary, but there’s nothing else to be done: between the three of them, they awkwardly drag Pamuk’s sheet-draped body through the halls back to his room. Daisy, up early to light the fires, surreptitiously observes the macabre scene.

The next morning while delivering a breakfast tray, Thomas discovers Pamuk’s body, and a mortified Evelyn tries to apologize to Mary for bringing Pamuk to Downton, but she breaks down and runs away. So much for that relationship. Later, as he is leaving, Evelyn concedes to Cora that he’s not “interesting enough” for Mary.

That same morning, Sybil, having learned of Gwen’s ambition to be a secretary, shows her a Help Wanted ad circled in the newspaper. She offers to help Gwen any way she can. Meanwhile, Daisy is spooked by what she saw the previous night.

That night, Carson comes to inspect Pamuk’s now-empty room, and finds Mary brooding there. He tries to comfort her, not understanding her gloom. Mary is clearly Carson’s favorite, and she is grateful for his kindness. Matthew goes out of his way to commiserate as well.

Mrs. Hughes encounters Bates in the downstairs hallway, bent over in pain. He insists it’s nothing, but Mrs. Hughes continues to be skeptical. Later, Lord Grantham also notices Bates’s obvious agony and asks Mrs. Hughes to find out what’s wrong. She corners Bates in a room and refuses to let him leave until he reveals his secret. Reluctantly, Bates pulls up his pant leg to uncover the leg-brace…and the leg underneath covered in bloody abrasions. It’s a gruesome sight.

Cut to Bates and Mrs. Hughes on the boat dock at the pond. At her urging, Bates flings the leg-brace into the water. “Good riddance!” Mrs. Hughes declares.

Back at Downton, Lord Grantham (Robert) meets the new chauffeur, Tom Branson, a young and handsome Irishman. At the same time, Cora and Violet are having tea on the lawn, bemoaning the lack of eligible marriage prospects for Mary. In the dark about Pamuk, Violet is puzzled by Mary’s recent depression. They discuss the “unbreakable” entail (drink!) barring Mary from inheriting the estate. Violet insists it could be broken, with the help of a “decent” lawyer. “I think I might know just the man,” Violet muses.