CHELSIE'S OLD AND NEW ERA-2

Hello all. Thank you very much for all the wonderful reviews after first chapter. My heart sings from joy that you liked it. A special thanks to my guest reviewer, who is reviewing in Italian and to answer your question- yes, you gave me the idea for this story and I'm very grateful.

In today's chapter, we are going to see how Downton reacts for the movie making. Hope you will like it.

Chapter 2- Moving picture at Downton

The news about making a movie at Downton broke unexpectedly and Elsie had to admit, that she hasn't seen such enthusiasm among the staff for a long time. They were living together everyday, experiencing different kind of emotions-joy, sadness, confusion, uncertainty about the future, family celebrations, but this was something new.

Comparable to the King's visit, but even more exciting. Everyone loved to serve the King and Queen, but the prospect of having two movie stars under the Downton roof, was thrilling, especially for the younger generation.

Elsie was kind of excited too at the beginning, so excited, that her first reflection was to call Charles and give him the news...

"Yes Charles, you heard right, they are going to make a movie in Downton..."

"Are you sure Elsie, maybe you heard wrong?"

"In spite of my age Charles Carson, I don't have a hearing problems yet. Yes, the will make a movie here. It was confirmed."

"Does His Lordship agrees and Lady Mary?"

"Well, I haven't asked their opinion yet, but apparently they do, otherwise they wouldn't invite the director here, to talk over the details. Charlie, I have to go now, I need to talk over some specifics with Thomas and all the others..."

"But Elsie, that movie thing, I want to know..."

"Charlie, not now please. We will talk tonight.."

Elsie hang up the phone, rolling her eyes. She knew Charles so well. The outrage in his voice was palpable. That was a revolutionary idea for him and she wasn't particularly pleased about the prospect of having a conversation with him regarding this subject. However for now, she had to focus on the staff. They gathered around the dining table, to discuss this exciting news.

Elsie entered the servants hall and she saw Daisy-that girl looked like she was on drugs- her eyes were enormous and she was laughing with Anna, excited about the things that were going to happen.

"Are we having a party here that I don't know about? What are you all doing here?"

"Mrs Hughes we are talking about the movie stars. Just imagine- Guy Dexter and Myrna Dagleish under our roof..Oh, I think that I won't sleep a wink when they will be here."- Daisy was more excited, than she was on her wedding day.

"Steady on Daisy, you are living in the farm now, so will it make any difference to you?"- Elsie was trying to stop her excessive enthusiasm.

"You are right Mrs Hughes. I think that you forgot about the fact that you are a married woman now Daisy..."-Andy certainly didn't share his wife's enthusiasm.

"Oh come on Andy, it will be fun...Screen stars here, at Downton...I still can't believe that the family agreed to that.."-Anna was as much excited as Daisy, but she was trying to hide it...

"I believe that the question of the leaking roof might have been the most convincing factor in this case..."- Beryl made this remark, looking at Elsie...She was wondering, why her friend didn't participate in all that commotion..."Are you all right Mrs Hughes? You seemed rather quiet.."

"I'm all right, thank you...I have just telephoned Mr Carson and gave him the news...You can imagine the rest.."

"I gather that he was not particularly pleased about it...But he will have to get use to this, as it is now a fact..."

"I already can't wait to talk to him about it tonight, it should be fun..."-Elsie smiled to her friend, they both knew exactly, what was ahead of Elsie tonight...

"I don't envy you...He will not be pleased, that's all I can say.."

"Mrs Hughes, when Myrna Dagleish gets here, can I take care of her, along with Anna? Will you let me?"-Daisy was still in the faze of enormous excitement...

"Steady on Daisy, your work is here...And I'm sure that Anna can do the job on her own.."- Mrs Patmore decided to help Elsie, to calm down the youngsters ecstatic reaction...

"We will cross that bridge when we get there, now please go back to work, all of you...Thank you..."-Elsie decided, that it was about time to end this little staff picnic...After all, she need a lot of strength for this evening...

Meanwhile, at the Carson's cottage...

Charles felt uneasy, ever since that phone call from Elsie...He was suppose to help Elsie with some cottage duties, but he couldn't focus. How was it possible, that they decided to do such a crazy thing? Has it really changed that much, since he was the butler at the Abbey?

His Abbey, his beloved place, the only place that he called home for many years, will be a place filled with actors, directors and other movie people, who will be snooping around every corner of the castle, putting all the precious objects is danger...Who knows what may happen? They could steal, break something, or even cause greater damages...He simply couldn't believe, that His Lordship and Lady Mary agreed to that..

He sat by the table and his thoughts immediately went back to the least favorite part of his life, when he was performing on stage with Charlie Grigg.. A restless shiver went through his body...Yes, he saw it, he knew that kind of life too well...Of course times have changed, it wasn't about the theater anymore, but about the movies, but the essence was the same.

Charles distinctly remembered, what kind of people were in that business...He decided to try it as a young boy, who was determined to get away from his family house and not repeat the path of life that his parents chose, but he definitely wasn't aware what he was stepping into.

Common, boorish men, with cruel and indecent jokes, vulgar easy women, who were ready to sell their bodies to everyone that wanted them and those awful nights, when they performed in front of the audience, who was not always receptive...

Charles remembered very well when their performances were not good and how they were laughed and humiliated by the public. Grigg didn't care about that at all-as long as he was earning the money-enough money to have a place to live and a food on the table, plus an indecent women by his side, he was happy. But Charles felt like it was a personal insult to him. When he stood there, on the stage, derided by the public, he swore to himself, that he will find a job which will make people respect him. Back then he didn't know yet what job it will be, but he was sure, that he definitely doesn't want to be a performer anymore.

He kept the promise which he gave to himself. He found a job which made him well respected man and he was proud of that. Now, after so many years of living far away from that world, he will have to experience it one more time and in the place that was like a sanctuary for him.. He simply couldn't take it...

Later, that evening, at Carson's cottage...

"Charles calm down! The decision has been made already and there is nothing you can do about it.."

"I don't understand that Elsie, I simply don't understand...Who agreed to that?"

"From what I heard, it was Lady Mary, who made the decision. His Lordship was against it at first, but..."

"Hallelujah! At least His Lordship has some common sense!"

"But Lady Mary took him to the attic and showed him the leaking roof and he had to admit, that there is no other way...They are paying a lot of money for it...I'm not sure how much, but apparently enough to fix the roof...You need to consider this..."

"I don't want to consider this!...Elsie! For heavens sake!...How can they do that? Do you know what that will mean? Horde of people, wandering around the house, stealing, breaking valuable objects and disturbing old Lady Grantham...I simply can't imagine this...If I was a butler.."

"But you are not Charlie, not anymore...And you have to accept that..."-Elsie was stroking his shaking hand gently...She noticed, that he was so nervous, that the shaking, from which he didn't suffer a lot recently, has now came back...It was always like this, in the moments of a great distress...

"I'm sure that Mr Barrow will not manage and he will not be able to do it as well as I could...There should be...Yes! I know what needs to be done, if we can't prevent that mad idea, I must be there to help...You will not be able to do it all alone, I will be there to help you. I will talk to Lady Mary tomorrow and ask her permission, I'm sure she will not mind...Only I can save the situation.."

Charles sighed with relief, thinking that he found the best solution, but Elsie was seriously concerned.. No, that was not a good idea. In fact, that was the worse possible solution ever...She could already see Charles prying in every little situation, during the movie making...Scolding the movie people and maybe even the actors! She had no doubts how it will look...She was trying to save the situation...

"Charlie, I do not think that it is a good idea...We are capable of managing on our own and you should not be exposed to this level of stress..."

"I don't care about the stress Elsie. I need to help Downton and Lady Mary. I'm essential there..."

Elsie looked at her agitated husband and her face got soften immediately..Her sweet, old Charlie...If he only knew, that he wasn't needed there for a long time, as Thomas was doing a good job as a butler...But that was something that she could never tell him, as it would break his heart...

"Charlie, I'm sure that Lady Mary thinks that you are essential, but I'm worrying about you...I don't want the shaking to go back...You need to take care of yourself..We are not young anymore..."

"Speak for yourself Elsie!...I feel young and needed..."

Elsie thought, that this time she will not be able to won this match, so she decided to use a little trick..

"Charlie...Let me talk to Lady Mary about it...I believe, that she has planned everything already and it would be a good idea, if I will mention about your need of engagement in the upcoming events...I'm suppose to see her tomorrow anyway, to talk over some housing things, so I can mention that you want to be a part of the making movie at Downton, is it all right with you sweetheart?"-Elsie squeezed his hand delicately and she gave him a sweet kiss on his cheek, few kisses to be exact, followed by one soft kiss on the lips...It was a reliable method, which she frequently used, when she was determined to make Charles do exactly what she wanted him to do...

It never failed and so it was this time..Charles's angry face expression disappeared and his eyes were docile and full of trust for his wife...

"All right Elsie, if you think that's better solution, that I can agree to that...Just remember, to tell Lady Mary how important my contribution will be and how necessary my presence is at the Abbey, in such critical time..."

"You can trust me Charlie...I will tell her all about your contribution...Let's get some sleep now my love...We have another tiring day ahead of us..."

Charles nodded and followed Elsie and she congratulated herself once again, of being the smarter one in this marriage...She couldn't even count, how many times she had to turn around a situation, to adjust it to her needs and at the same time, not forgetting about keeping Charles in conviction, that he was the one who made the decision...

After four years of their marriage, she could easily call herself a master in that area...Tomorrow, she had an important task to do- convincing Lady Mary, that Charles's presence at Downton during the movie making, is the worst possible idea...She was oddly calm, about the success of her mission...

That's all for chapter two...As I mentioned, I will try to find some sort of references to the past in each chapter of this story. This time, Charles went back to the darkest time of his life...And Elsie of course triumphed, like she always does...That's one of the things I always admired her for- even when they were not married yet, she could always make him do exactly what she wanted and he was still convinced, that he made the decision ;-) Hope you liked this one. The next one, will be about the preparations for the trip to France. Thank you for reading and reviewing in advance. Have a great week!