Episode 6.05

Episode 6.05
Series 6, Episode 5
Air date	18th October 2015
Written by	Julian Fellowes
Directed by	Michael Engler
Episode guide
Previous	Episode 6.04
Next	Episode 6.06

Episode 6.05 is the fifth episode in the sixth series of Downton Abbey. It aired on October 18th, 2015 in the UK, and on January 31st, 2016 in the US.

Synopsis

Neville Chamberlain visits Downton for dinner, and is drawn into Violet’s plan to "save" the hospital, ending with an unexpected catastrophe and deep concern from everyone. Andy finds an unexpected confidante while helping Mr Mason move into Yew Tree Farm. Meanwhile, Mary is uncertain if she has met her love match.

Edith meets Bertie Pelham in London again, and Spratt reluctantly comes to Denker’s aid. Mrs Carson struggles to keep Mr Carson happy, while Mary's suspicions about Marigold are roused upon overhearing a puzzling remark about the child from her grandmother.

Plot

Mr Mason finally moves into Yew Tree Farm with the help of Daisy and Mrs Patmore, as the Drewes are leaving within a couple of days. At the House, Violet informs Robert that the Minister of Health is paying them a visit to see what has been happening to the hospitals since World War I. The Dowager convinced him to come to Downton in order to persuade Mr Chamberlain to side with her, which Robert says is a losing battle. In the Servant's Hall, Baxter is called to York by Sergeant Willis to testify at a trial of a "former acquaintance" accompanied by Mr Molesley for moral support. Meanwhile, Mrs Carson tries her best to make her husband happy at their cottage but her cooking still needs improvement; so Carson turns to Mrs Patmore for advice. In York, Baxter and Molesley turn up at court, which ends with Peter Coyle changing his plea and Baxter not needing to testify.

As Mary, Edith and Tom are away, Sybbie, George, and Marigold have to make do with Granny and "Donk." They show their grandchildren the places they have visited, and the Sphinx of Egypt catches Sybbie's eye; which Robert explains is "a creature of secrets that she never reveals" which Cora says is like Granny Violet. At the Dowager House, Violet and Isobel are talking when Violet expresses surprised shock and anger from a letter by Dr Clarkson. She summons Spratt to bring Denker, who she then angrily criticizes for calling Dr Clarkson "a traitor" and fires her.  

At night, Cora is in her room, dreading the dinner when Mr Chamberlain will appear. Robert is sure that his mother will see this as the last battle over the dispute of the hospital. As Robert continues to feel stomach pains, Cora suggest to cancel the dinner but Robert says that his mother would only rearrange it and think that he ratted on her. He promises that he will take things more slowly for a few days.    

At Yew Tree Farm, Mr Mason, Daisy, Andy and Mrs Patmore are all relaxing with cups of tea. Andy shows interest in helping Mr Mason with farming, and Mr Mason lends him some books about how to farm the land and care for the animals. Tom and Mary arrive to help Mr Mason in farming the pigs.    

Cast List

Oliver & Zac Barker as George Crawley Antonia Bernath as Laura Edmunds Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley Laura Carmichael as Edith Crawley Jim Carter as Charles Carson Raquel Cassidy as Phyllis Baxter Paul Copley as Mr Mason Brendan Coyle as John Bates Michelle Dockery as Mary Crawley Kevin Doyle as Joseph Molesley Sebastian Dunn as Charlie Rogers Victoria Emslie as Audrey Michael Fox as Andrew Parker Rupert Frazer as Neville Chamberlain Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates Matthew Goode as Henry Talbot Harry Hadden-Paton as Bertie Pelham Fifi Hart as Sybbie Branson Rob James-Collier as Thomas Barrow Sue Johnston as Gladys Denker Allen Leech as Tom Branson Phyllis Logan as Elsie Carson Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley Sophie McShera as Daisy Mason Lesley Nicol as Beryl Patmore Douglas Reith as Richard Grey David Robb as Richard Clarkson Eva & Karina Samms as Marigold Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley Jeremy Swift as Septimus Spratt Howard Ward as Sergeant Willis Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley

Notes

• Henry Talbot uses the phrase La Belle Dame sans Merci when talking to Mary and Tom at a pub. It is a reference to a poem by John Keats. La belle dame sans merci, the beautiful lady without pity, is a femme fatale; a Siren-like figure who magically attracts lovers with hypnotically irresistible voice and charm only to lure them to their deaths; similar to mermaids, and an enchantress Circe. She destroys because it is her nature to destroy.
• Violet says When we unleash the dogs of war, we must go where they take us. While the phrase may best be known for the 1974 Frederick Forsyth book and 1980 film The Dogs of War, the phrase originates in Julius Caesar by William Shakespear. The full phrase is Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war.
• Violet, after putting herself at a more minor seat at the table, says il faut reculer pour mieux sauter, which means you have to step back in order to jump further.