COUSIN ISOBEL
Well I think the flower arrangements are entirely adequate.
COUSIN VIOLET
Oh no you don’t, bitch.
Cousin Violet pulls out the elegant knife with the mother-of-pearl handle gifted to her by the Duke of Flimmington. Cousin Isobel counters with the silver letter opener that Edith stole from the Count of Courbray. There is a struggle. Cousin Cora gasps. Lady Mary looks bored. Edith begins to weep softly. At last, Violet emerges victorious, having ruined Isobel’s mauve dress with an unfashionable bloodstain.
Lord Grantham: I say, this is almost as exciting as the time my dear cousin Teddy was almost murdered at Eaton for making an unfortunate reference to the headmaster’s cravat.
LADY EDITH
Well, I have opinions on that subject.
LADY CORA
Mr. Carson, would you be a dear and bring out the bag?
Mr. Carson takes out the traditional a burlap sack and puts it over Lady Edith’s head. Lady Mary sighs with evident relief.
LADY MARY
Good lord, I thought that old hag would never shut up.
EXT, WOODS – EARLY AFTERNOON
Lady Mary and a suitor are riding on her vast estate. Lady Mary has forgotten the suitor’s name, since she has so many to keep track of and they all look the same, but she is too polite to say so.
SUITOR
Mary, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?
Mary looks haughty. Edith stumbles out of a bush. The sack is still on her head. She is also wearing a very frumpy sweater.
MARY
Oh, do be civilized, Edith.
INT, KITCHEN – LATE AFTERNOON
Thomas is scheming. Mr. Bates sits in the corner, glowering and aggressively polishing a shoe. Mrs. Patmore is weeping over a fallen souffle while Daisy cowers.
THOMAS
I am just scheming super hard right now.
BAXTER
Whatever could Thomas be scheming about? Perhaps it has something to do with my mysterious past.
Mr. Carson enters, distraught. His normally pristine shirt is spattered with blood.
Mr. CARSON
The salad forks were placed to the right of the oyster forks! This dinner party is a disaster!
THOMAS
At last, my evil plan has come to fruition.
MR. MOLSELY
You monster!