In the morning hours at Downton, Edith was trying to convince Mary to join in on the concert that the officers were putting together as She and Eve were handing out letters in the grand hall.
"Mary, the men are arranging the concert now and they're so anxious for us both to be in it or there'll be no girls at all. Eve is going to sing by herself. Please say you will," Edith pleaded.
"I'll be singing a song that I and many others would sing at the hospital in France," Eve said.
"Do I have to?" Mary asked as she walked toward the stairs.
"Yes, you do," Cora told her daughter as she came down the stairs, "Keeping their spirits up is an important part of the cure and it's so very little to ask."
"What's going on?" Isobel asked Edith as she walked into the hall.
"The men are putting on a concert."
"Can I help?"
"Edith has it under control," Cora answered.
"I do, if Mary's willing," Edith said.
"Oh, all right. One song and that's your lot," Mary told her from up the stairs. Eve and Edith left the grand hall to hand out the post in the recreation room.
In the recreation room, Eve and Edith were handing out the post to the officers.
"There's a parcel for you," Edith hands it over to the officer.
"Thank you."
"There's a little one for you," Eve hands a small package to an officer.
"This one looks as if it's been opened, but it hasn't," Edith informed him. She and Eve hear a giggle and looks over to see Ethel leaning close to Major Bryant, "Ethel, have you nothing to do?"
Ethel leaves just as Mrs. Hughes enters.
"I was keeping her talking. You mustn't blame her," Major Bryant said.
"I don't," Edith told him.
Both Mrs. Hughes and Eve look disapprovingly at Major Bryant and Mrs. Hughes walks away.
"Nurse Evie!" Eve heard her nickname that the children at the village hospital had given her and turned to see one of the boys she knew from the hospital all grown up.
"Danny, is that you?" Eve asked as she walked over to the boy she once knew now in a wheelchair, "How have you been?"
"I have been better, but you should see the other guy," He answered with a smile, "I have not seen you since the start of the war."
"I went away the moment they would allow me," She told him before she looked at him with a serious expression, "Danny, I want you to be honest with me. Did you lie about your age when you enlisted?"
Danny hesitated for a moment before answering, "I took my brother's papers and I told my family that I had found a job in Elgin. I send them a letter every once in a while to let them know that I am doing well. Please don't tell them, Nurse Evie."
"I promise, but I know that you will have to tell them soon, please Danny. Should something happen to you your family should know what you were doing," Eve told him.
After she had finished helping Edith handing out the post, Eve went downstairs to the kitchen
As Eve and Mrs. Hughes walked toward the kitchen, they could hear Mrs. Patmore and Isobel talking.
"But I don't understand. The patients are always served their luncheon at half past twelve," Isobel said.
"Well, today they'll be served at one," Mrs. Patmore informed her.
"Is there something I can help with?" Mrs. Hughes asked.
"Mrs. Patmore seems to be disobeying my instructions, and I can't get to the reason why," Isobel told her.
"If you mean the patients' new lunchtime, Her Ladyship felt that it made the staff luncheon unreasonably early. She moved it so that they could eat at noon," She told Isobel.
"But that will interfere with the nurses' shifts," Isobel wondered.
"No, actually, my aunt has altered those, too," Eve informed.
"Has she indeed? Well, we'll see about that," Isobel walks away and everyone knew where she was going.
"It was always a question of when," Mrs. Hughes said.
That night in Sybil's bedroom, Eve sat on the bed petting Cassandra while Sybil finishes her hair. Then Mary enters the bedroom.
"Anna said you were honouring us with your presence at dinner," Mary greeted them.
"It's easier here in the hospital. And I can always get changed back into my uniform if I need to," Sybil explained.
"What were you talking to Branson about? When I came into the yard?" She inquired.
"Nothing," Sybil lied before she walks away from the mirror.
"Then why were you there?" Mary questioned.
"Why were you there?" Eve asked Mary, attempting to help Sybil.
"Because I was ordering the motor. That is why one talks to chauffeurs, isn't it? To plan journeys by road."
"He is a person. He can discuss other things," Sybil defended.
"I'm sure he can. But not with you," Mary reasoned.
"What do you want from me? Am I to see if Sir Richard Carlisle has a younger brother? One who's even richer than he is?" Sybil exclaimed.
"Darling, what's the matter with you? I'm on your side," Mary argued.
"Then be on my side!" Sybil cried.
In the village, Eve was walking Mrs. Patmore and Daisy enjoying the air and sun.
"I had to get out of that kitchen if I'm not to be found dead under the table. It's like cooking a banquet three times a day," Mrs. Patmore complained as they walked.
"It is a lot of extra work, whatever they say. Even with the helpers," Daisy agreed.
"Huh. Don't think they lighten the load."
"I know that with Downton being a convalescent home and all the people that have been added to feed has been a struggle for you and everyone in the kitchen, Mrs. Patmore, Daisy. But everyone is grateful for what you are doing," Eve told them.
They see a bunch of war-wounded men walking to the Crawley house.
"Mrs. Bird? What's going on?" Mrs. Patmore asked her as they walked over.
"I knew I'd be found out sooner or later. At least it's you," Mrs. Bird said.
"Found out doing what?" She asked, confused.
"What does it look like?"
"Well, I don't know what it looks like. Except some kind of soup kitchen."
"You better come inside," Mrs. Bird told them. They followed her into the Crawley house and when they arrived in the kitchen there are men gathered in a line to get food.
"One at a time," Mrs. Bird said as she grabbed the plates. Take a piece of bread."
"Right. Daisy, stand there. Give them a bowl and a spoon. Eve, hand out the vegetables. When did all this start?" Mrs. Patmore asked Mrs. Bird as they took their place.
"That fella turned up asking for food. Then he came back next day with a friend. And here we are," She replied as she served the soup.
"What does Mrs. Crawley say?" Daisy asked her.
"She doesn't know yet. I suppose she'll put a stop to it when she gets back from France."
"Cousin Isobel does not seem like the type of person who would do such a thing," Eve said.
"To be honest, Mrs. Patmore, I'm not sure I can manage much longer," Mrs. Bird told her.
"Well, how often do you do it?" She asked.
"Plan to get it down to once a week and give 'em only the cheapest cuts, but it is my money. And I don't know how much-"
"No, hold it right there," Mrs. Patmore interrupted, "If we can't feed a few soldiers in our own village, them must have taken the bullet or worse for king and country, then I don't know what."
That evening, everyone was in the dining room eating their dinner and talking amongst each other. The topics of conversation varied.
"I might go over to Moulton tomorrow. Agatha Spenlow promoting her charity fair. Do you need the motor?" Cora asked her husband.
"I'm afraid I do," Robert replied, "Can you get Pratt to take you in the other car?"
"Doesn't matter, I can go on Monday," She told him, "But why?"
"I'm told Bates is working at a public house in Kirkbymoorside. I want to investigate," He answered.
"I can't decide which part of that speech is the most extraordinary. Why can't someone else go?" Violet asked.
"Because I want to go myself," Robert replied. The telephone rings and Mr. Carson goes to answer it.
"So, Sybil, what are you up to, dear?" Violet asked her youngest granddaughter.
"Nothing much. Eve and I have been working. I don't have time to get up to anything else," Sher answered.
"Only, Mary and I were talking about you. You know, the other day," Violet informed.
"Oh?" Sybil muttered.
"I didn't say anything," Mary mouthed.
"Yes, you see, sometimes in war, one can make friendships that aren't quite…appropriate. And can be awkward, you know, later on. I mean, we've all done it. I just want you to be on your guard," Violet warned.
"Appropriate for whom, Granny?" Eve inquired, defending Sybil.
"Well, don't jump down my throat, dear. I'm only offering friendly advice," Violet defended herself.
"Why do you want to see Bates? To give him his old job back?" Cora asked her husband.
"Not entirely. I mainly want to see him because we parted badly," Robert confessed.
Carson re-enters, "Telephone call for you, milord."
"If you did, I'm sure it's his fault," Cora said, trying to comfort her husband.
"No, it was mine," Robert gets up from the table and exits into the next room, which is full of the officer's loud conversation.
"Oh, really. It's like living in a second-rate hotel where the guests keep arriving and no one seems to leave," Violet complied.
After dinner, the ladies exit the dining room, and Robert finishes up his phone call. Eve and Edith stayed behind to speak to him.
"I see. Yes. Thank you for letting me know," Robert said into the telephone before hanging up.
"Are you all right, Papa?" Edith asked.
"You seem distraught," Eve said.
"That was the war office. Matthew and William went out on a patrol a few days ago and they haven't been seen since," Robert informed them.
"Oh, my God," Edith gasped.
"Let's not fall to pieces quite yet. It happens all the time, apparently, and the men turn up in one field hospital or another," He told them.
"But they are treating them as Missing In Action?" Eve asked.
"It's too early for that. There could be lots of things to explain it."
"You mean they could've been taken prisoner," Edith inquired.
"It's possible. Don't say anything to Mary. Or your mother. Or anyone, in fact. Not yet," Robert told them, "I shouldn't really have told you."
"What about Cousin Isobel?" Edith asked.
"I don't know how to contact her. Anyway, she's in France. She may hear before we do," Robert takes Edith's hand.
The next evening, in the servant's corridor, Mrs. Hughes and Eve walked into the hallway and were surprised to find Mr. Bates.
"Mr. Bates. You're a sight for sore eyes. Welcome home," Mrs. Hughes greeted.
"It is so good to have you back, Mr. Bates," Eve told him.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hughes, Miss Eve," Mr. Bates said before Anna stepped into the corridor.
"Thought it was you," Anna said with a smile on her face.
"Hello," He smiled at her.
"Come a way in, and give some substance to the gossip of your return," Mrs. Hughes said as she and Eve led Mr. Bates into the Servent's hall where Mr. Carson and some of the other indoor staff is.
"You'll find things a bit different from when you left, Mr. Bates," Mr. Carson told him.
"Downton at war?" Mr. Bates said.
"Precisely. There's some extra help in the kitchen, all very nice people. And the nurses of course, but they live down at the hospital."
"Except for Lady Sybil and Miss Eve," Anna added.
"Nurse Crawley and Matron De La Cruz, please," Thomas corrected her.
"So, we've both returned, you and I," Mr. Bates noted, "Couple of bad pennies."
"I haven't," He told him.
"Thomas means he's not here as a servant. He manages the house. He's a sergeant now," Miss O'Brien informed Mr. Bates.
"I take orders from Major Clarkson. He runs this place on behalf of the army medical corps," Thomas added.
"Yet another reason to pray for peace," Mr. Bates joked, "I heard about William from His Lordship. And Captain Crawley."
"I'm sure they're all right," Anna told him.
"Everyone has been worried about them and some have started to fear the worst," Eve said.
They hear a door bang open and Mr. Molesley runs down the corridor.
"Sorry I'm late," He apologized, "Has the dressing gong rung yet?"
"You're not late," Mrs. Hughes informed him, "Mr. Molesley, but er-"
"Mr. Bates is back, and you reminded me I better ring it now," Mr. Carson said before walking out of the room.
"Are you staying for good?" Mr. Mosley asked, still panting.
"I'd need a crystal ball to answer that, but I'll stay for now," Mr. Bates answered, "Have you been standing in for me?"
"I was going to start tonight, yeah," He replied.
"Then you'll be relieved to see me."
"Oh, tremendously."
"What's that?" Mr. Bates asked, gesturing to what is in Mr. Molesley's hand.
"It's a new kind of shoehorn. I bought it for His Lordship," He replied.
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Molesley, thank you," Mr. Bates said. Mr. Molesley is forced to give Mr. Bates the shoehorn. Mr. Carson rings the dressing gong in the distance.
"Daisy, fetch me some more tea," Thomas ordered.
"Thomas, I've got dinner-" Daisy began.
"Hot this time, and it's Sergeant Barrow to you," He reminded her.
"I'll make it. I was about to make some anyway for a few of the officers and nurses," Eve said before walking toward the kitchen.
In the morning at the Crawley house, they gathered in the kitchen getting everything ready before the wounded soldiers came in for their meal.
"Mind out, this is hot," Mr. Mosley said as he placed a hot pot full of soup
"Daisy, spoons!" Mrs. Patmore ordered as she came in with a tray, "Unless they're to drink directly from the bowl."
"Do you think we have enough?" Mrs. Bird asked.
"Oh, you'll feed about fifty, I reckon," Mr. Mosley noted.
The entire room went quiet and they all saw Cora and Miss O'Brien standing at the doorway to the kitchen.
"May we come in?" Cora greeted.
"Your Ladyship. What a surprise," Mrs. Patmore said.
"O'Brien seemed to think that you and Mrs. Bird were engaged in a commercial venture of some sort, so I came to see for myself," She told them.
"We are not, Your Ladyship," Mrs. Bird explained.
"I agree, that's not what it looks like."
"We feed these men once a week, and I'm not ashamed of it. I-I'll be back before luncheon at the big house," Mrs. Patmore told her.
"I'm sure. But is it true they're fed from our kitchens?" Cora asked.
"Only the stuff the army gives. They are soldiers," Daisy informed.
"What did I tell you?" Miss O'Brien said.
"Daisy's right. We only use the food the army pay for, and all the men have served their country," Mrs. Patmore added.
"Please Aunt Cora, what we are doing is helping those who have been turned away from any kind of work all because they have been injured or worse while protecting their homes and families," Eve pleaded.
They all wait nervously for Cora's next move.
"In future, I would prefer it if you would use food paid for by the house. I don't want the army to accuse us of mismanagement," Cora said.
"You mean, you're going to let them get away with it?" Miss O'Brien questioned her.
"Oh, more than that, I'm going to help them. And so are you," She told her, Molesley."
"Ma'am," Mr. Mosley stood at attention.
"If you'd bring that table over, I suggest we divide the food. Then we can form two lines and it will go faster," Cora said, the staff and Eve smile at each other, "O'Brien, you can manage the bread. Daisy?"
"Of course, milady," Daisy leaves the room to let the wounded soldiers in.
"What is it?" Cora asked Mr. Mosley after she had moved behind the table.
Mr. Molesley opens the lid, "Beef stew, ma'am."
Daisy directs the men to the kitchen, "Stand over right there."
They all dish up food to the soldiers as they enter the kitchen.
That evening in the library, Edith plays the piano as an accent to Major Bryant's magic act. While Sybil and Eve tend to some of the officers. Eve was somehow dreading the moment when Major Bryant's act was finished and she would have to go up there, but she knew that there were times when one had to push through the nerves. The audience applauds as Bryant finished his magic act. Eve turns around and Edith nods at her.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, I give you Downton Abbey's very own Florence Nightingale: The Honourable Miss and Matron Eve De La Cruz," Edith introduced her cousin as she walked upfront.
"Thank you, Edith. The song I am about to sing has been sung among many of us at the front," Eve said. She waited for Edith to begin playing the music before she sang, "Nights are growing very lonely, says are very long; I'm a-growing weary only list'ning for your song. Old remembrances are thronging thro' my memory till it seems the world is full of dreams just to call you back to me."
The audience joined in for the chorus, "There's a long, long trail a-winding Into the land of my dreams, where the nightingales are singing and a white moonbeams. There's a long, long night of waiting until my dreams all come true; Till the day when I'll be going down that long, long trail with you."
"All night long I hear you calling, calling sweet and low; Seem to hear your footsteps falling, ev'ry where I go. Tho' the road between us stretches many a weary mile, I forget that you're not with me yet when I think I see you smile."
"There's a long, long trail a-winding into the land of my dreams, where the nightingales are singing and a white moonbeams. There's a long, long night of waiting until my dreams all come true; till the day when I'll be going down that long, long trail with you."
The audience applauds when the song had finished and Eve gives a little curtsy before standing beside Sybil. Edith turns around and nods to Mary, who walks to the front.
"Most of you won't know how rare it is to see my sister Edith and I pulling together in a double act. But in wartime, we – like all of you – have more important things to worry about. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the Crawley sisters," Mary introduced.
Edith began playing the song and Mary sang, "Some times when I feel bad and things look blue I wish a pal I had, say one like you, someone, within my heart to build a throne Someone who'd never part to call my own."
Everyone joined in as they did with Eve, "If you were the only girl in the world and I were the only boy. Nothing else would matter in the world today. We could go on loving in the same old way."
Mary suddenly stops singing and everyone turns to see who Mary is looking at the other side of the room. Cora and Robert stand up in delight and Robert goes to shake Matthew's hand.
"My dear boy. My very dear boy," Robert said with joy and relief.
"Come on, don't stop for me," Matthew said before singing as he walks up the aisle to stand with Mary," I would say such wonderful things to you," Matthew sang as he walks up the aisle to stand with Mary.
"There would be such wonderful things to do," Matthew and Mary sang.
"If you were the only girl in the world and I were the only boy," When the song finishes, the audience applauds and smiles all around. Mary was barely able to maintain her composure in her shock and joy,
Later that evening in the great hall, a reception was being held for everyone after the concert. Matthew was explaining what had happened to him and William to Robert and Mary. Eve and Sybil were helping the soldiers and enjoying conversation with them. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the war for a brief time that night.