Episode 3.01

Episode 3.01
Series 3, Episode 1
Air date	16th September 2012
Written by	Julian Fellowes
Directed by	Brian Percival
Episode guide
Previous	2011 Christmas Special
Next	Episode 3.02

"At war, at peace, Downton still stands and the Crawleys are still in it!"

—Martha when she steps out of the car after arriving at Downton Abbey

Martha: "Oh dear, I'm afraid the war has made old women of us both."

Violet: "Oh, I wouldn't say that - but then, I always keep out of the sun. Well, how do you find Downton on your return?"

Martha: "Much the same really. Probably too much the same, but then I don't want to cast a pall over all the happiness."

— Violet and Martha reuniting at the beginning of Series 3.

Set in Spring 1920. Cora’s mother sweeps into Downton for Matthew and Mary’s wedding, causing friction with the Dowager Countess with her "revolutionary" way of seeing things. Lord Grantham is informed that his attempt to make money for Downton by pouring the bulk of Cora's fortune into a single railway company has failed, leaving the estate near bankruptcy. Salvation is possible thanks to Matthew inheriting a large amount of money from Lavinia's father, but his high values will not let him keep the money, feeling it a betrayal of Lavinia and her father.