'Downton Abbey' Recap: Season 4 Episode 4

Downton Abbey airs Thursdays at 8:00 pm and is available to stream by WTTW Passport members. Recap the previous episodes.
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The kindly Phyllis Baxter has been hired as Cora’s new maid on Thomas’s recommendation after Edna’s hasty departure. She brings with her a portable sewing machine that she hopes to install in the servants hall. Mrs. Patmore, suspicious of modern innovations, is adamantly against it. (Wait until she hears about the refrigerator Cora is thinking of purchasing.) But she comes around once Baxter speedily repairs a rip in her apron. Baxter also scores points with Cora by adding a uniquely American touch to her breakfast tray: a glass of orange juice. An exchange with Thomas reveals why he recommended Baxter – he’s expecting her to share all the upstairs gossip; there will be unknown consequences if she doesn’t.

Alfred has applied to test for a spot in the Ritz Hotel’s chef training program, and Mrs. Hughes suggests to Carson that the other servants could help him prepare in case he is selected. Carson grudgingly agrees. At Daisy’s instruction, Alfred creates savories so good that Mrs. Patmore proposes serving them to the family before dinner. Happily, Alfred receives an acceptance from the Ritz – he must go to London to be tested in only two days’ time. In the kitchen at the Ritz, Alfred takes his test alongside the other applicants. He is woefully uninformed about French cuisine, and must make four prescribed dishes. They turn out very well, and the instructor promises a swift decision. A few days later, Alred learns that he was close, but didn’t quite make the final cut. He will try again, but for now, Daisy is jubilant that he is staying.

At Crawley House, Clarkson persuades Isobel to help out the destitute Mrs. Pegg by helping to secure an undergardener job for her young son John. He has no relevant experience, but Isobel persuades Violet to hire him. A few days later, Violet enters the study to find Pegg watering her house plants and after he leaves, she discovers her prized letter opener is nowhere to be found. Later, Violet, assuming that Pegg stole it, summons Isobel and Clarkson to complain. They advise caution.

Mary Asserts Herself

Robert is saddened to learn from Tom and Mary that Mr. Drewe, a longtime tenant, has died. Mary points out that the family’s rent has been in arrears for ages – they should foreclose and take over farming the land themselves. Robert can’t disagree but is uncomfortable with forcing Drewe and his family out. Leaving the church after the elder Drewe’s funeral, he is approached by the man’s bereaved son Tim, who asks Robert to let him take on his late father’s tenancy. Drewe is shocked to learn of his father’s financial troubles and that the foreclosure documents have already been signed. It’s a done deal, but Robert agrees to let him plead his case the next day. As the estate is in debt, Drewe doesn’t really have a leg to stand on, but a sentimental Robert decides to lend him the money to pay the back rent so he can stay on. Mary, a hardheaded realist, is not pleased. But Tom, still a socialist at heart, is on Drewe’s side, especially when he learns that Robert loaned Drewe the rent money. Mary concedes that if her father trusts Drewe, it’s good enough for her.

Since the house party, however, Tom has been sure that he doesn’t fit in. He proposes taking Sybbie and moving to America where they could start over. Cora, Robert, and Mary are horrified by the prospect of losing him and especially Sybbie, and try to think of a solution.

Robert shares a newspaper announcement with Mary: Tony Gillingham is officially engaged to Mabel Lane Fox. Mary has mixed emotions, unsure if she made a mistake in refusing him. Edith’s love life has hit a snag as well – Gregson has been in Germany for several weeks and she has suddenly stopped receiving letters from him. Having been under the weather for several days, she visits a London doctor, unbeknownst to the family. Meanwhile, Rose is excited to learn that Robert’s birthday is imminent and persuades Cora to organize a party for the occasion – she has an idea for a surprise.

Back at Downton, Mary is delighted to receive an unexpected visit from an old friend: Evelyn Napier. He is part of a team conducting a government-sponsored survey of local estates that may be in difficulty after the war, and is bringing in his boss, Charles Blake, to collaborate on a study of Downton. Mary, eager to get some free advice, insists that both men lodge with the Crawleys while they’re in the area.

Staffing Changes

Faced with the inevitability of losing Alfred at some point, Carson has an idea: they can take on the underemployed Moseley to replace him as footman. Molesley, desperately in need of a steady job, makes the grave mistake of playing hard to get with Carson – he’s a trained valet and butler and being a footman would be a comedown, but he will consider it. Carson is insulted by the reaction to his generous offer. A few days later, when Molesley returns and grudgingly accepts the footman position, Carson informs him that Alfred isn’t leaving after all. So there is no longer a position available when there might have been if he accepted the offer right away. Molesley is chagrined, but it’s no more than he deserves.

Anna is still giving Bates the cold shoulder, and he continues to despair without knowing the reason. But no explanation is forthcoming. Mrs. Hughes tries and fails to convince Anna to tell Bates about the attack now that she thankfully isn’t pregnant. Unfortunately for them, Bates is hiding behind a door, eavesdropping. Later, after several failed attempts to get the truth from Anna, Bates corners Mrs. Hughes, threatening to quit if she doesn’t come clean. With no choice and against her better judgment, she tells him what happened, but lies that the perpetrator was a random stranger who broke into the house. Upon pinpointing the date, Bates argues that the culprit must have been Green. Mrs. Hughes, panicking, denies it. Bates is not convinced but is devastated to learn what really happened to Anna. He breaks down in tears.

That night in private, he carefully confronts Anna: he knows her secret. Anna, initially furious with Mrs. Hughes for going against her word, is relieved that Bates apparently believes the “random stranger” story. She tells Bates she is ashamed and feels forever tainted by what happened. He assures her that she is anything but in his eyes. In fact, he loves her more than ever. They fall into each other’s arms, and Anna tearfully agrees to return to live in their cottage. However, privately convinced that Green is indeed Anna’s rapist, Bates plots revenge.