The Dowager's Quick Thinking Saves the Day | Downton Abbey

Mary’s secret assignation is very nearly blown, but Violet’s quick thinking saves the day.
Clip from Season 5, Episode 3 - Mary’s secret assignation is very nearly blown, but Violet’s quick thinking saves the day. Robert is left red faced and furious when things don’t go as planned. The events surrounding Green’s death are once again under scrutiny, while Mrs Patmore is devastated when old wounds are reopened but Carson is unsympathetic.
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#DowntonAbbeyThis is the official KZbin channel for Downton Abbey. Immerse yourself in the much loved British historical drama and relive some of your favourite moments and tragedies, access to exclusive interviews with all the cast and keep up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe for more here: / @downtonabbey
Watch Downton Abbey on iTunes: bit.ly/Downton...
Twitter: / downtonabbey
Facebook: / downtonabbey
Instagram: / downtonabbey_official
#DowntonAbbey

[@chanatepethnoi7227]

"You're testing me Spratt and I warn you being tested does not bring out the best in me" lol 😂🤣

[@harringt100]

That's the point of testing!

[@Gancanna]

She doesn't pull her punches, that's for sure! :D

[@creativehorsequeen]

"Can we be confident that there will be no unwanted epilogue?" 🤣🤣 The Dowager always has the best lines.

[@brenna7757]

I know! I wish I could say things like this without people looking at me with bug eyes lol I wish people still spoke like this😅

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

@@brenna7757 I do it sometimes, when I am trolling people who deserve it on KZbin. They understand it, even when they usually cannot construct a reply in the same manner, that will hold up to scrutiny. And besides it makes them look up old fashioned and big words, to see what I was saying about them, lol. Just an idea, lol.

[@robfmas]

Ive watched this clip 20 times and laughed out loud each and every time😅

[@danbev8542]

I believe Julian Fellows, when trying to convince Maggie Smith to take the role, told her he’d give her the best lines!

[@thomasthomas2418]

"I learned a great deal that I never knew before" And the last glance at Violet was priceless!

[@kingmalcolm8695]

Every family needs a wise old, matriarch dispensing wisdom and wit with an understanding heart but a firm hand. Every family needs a Violet Crawley.

[@Aethgeir]

Yes, unfortunately "families" are becoming a thing of the past.

[@pativi6643]

Unfortunately kids these days will only reply with 'ok boomer'.

[@martaflorcremades1128]

Ok. Boomer

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

@@martaflorcremades1128 Okay Zoomer.

[@Piterdeveirs333]

@@Aethgeir no they aren't weirdo

[@inkheart151]

How ironic that Sybil was the forward thinking political activist but she was the only sister who never broke the social rule of sleeping with a man before marriage. Granted she broke every other rule in the book, but that rule? Nope.

[@xolotlnephthys]

Mary didn't really break a social rule at the time. Widows had more freedom than unmarried women, it wasn't untoward for them to enjoy life a little.

[@inkheart151]

@@xolotlnephthys She wasn't a widow when the incident occurred though......

[@xolotlnephthys]

@@inkheart151 She was, this clip is in like season 5 (she didn't technically sleep with Mr Pamuk in season 1)

[@Dr.SyedSaifAbbasNaqvi]

​@@inkheart151 What are you talking about. Tony came into the picture in season 4 after Matthew's death so she was a widow when she met Tony.

[@ladysollua]

@@Dr.SyedSaifAbbasNaqvi Kemal Pamuk is the “incident” before Mary married Matthew.

[@patimusprime72]

Violet is my absolute favorite character on this show. She's so quick witted and entertaining. Nothing gets by her for long.

[@sebastienmarvonhalen1166]

She is my favorite too then right behind her is Isobel

[@m.layfette6249]

"You're testing me Spratt, and I warn you testing does not bring out the best in me."

[@Luboman411]

The eye-talking here is fabulous. First, Sprat caught on that his suspicions were right when he saw the Dowager Countess's very surprised eyes when he told her about finding Lady Mary in Liverpool, emerging out of a hotel with a man in tow. (How scandalous, like a common trollop! LOL.) Then when Sprat asked Lady Mary about her stay in Liverpool--her eyes got as wide as saucers, another confirmation to Sprat that his initial suspicions were true after all. Then there's Lady Mary's tart retort that she "learned a great deal that [she] never knew before" as she was impudently glancing at the Dowager Countess, while we get a view of Sprat's eyes for the first time. He bows his head ever so slightly, and his eyebrows arch a bit, like he's confirming all his suspicions some more. LOL. Love it!

[@juliam.mallen3181]

Absolutely perfect!

[@jameswg13]

And then he becomes a columnist/ dear deadrie person haha

[@m.layfette6249]

The look on Lady Mary's face when Spratt says, 'I hope you enjoyed your time in Liverpool' is beyond priceless. Then enter the Dowager Countess.

[@georgeprchal3924]

But that old Granny was so smart and so slick that she thought up a lie and she thought it up quick.

[@patriciajrs46]

And maintained it.

[@blurdreamer]

she born from an ancient time, it is assume she is more alert what those scandal can do to a women than any other. also, she probably been there done that. she prepared.

[@patriciajrs46]

What a face Mary makes! And of course the Dowager's perfect delivery of astonishment and then relief at Spratt's telling news. The way Mary and the Dowager arch their brows at one another. Priceless. That line, not if she's the daughter of an Earl. Classic.

[@robboyte1101]

2:56 -- Violet almost - ALMOST - exposes Edith's situation to Mary, but she catches herself in time. THAT would've rocked everything. Nice save there, Countess.

[@joeseeking3572]

I've seen this before and loved it, but never caught Mary's eye roll at the end. They really were masters of the character.

[@Emperatriz_Valentina]

Lady Mary: I learned a great deal I never knew before. Me: 👀👀👀

[@kritishdadu9828]

the Dowager Countess is the best love guru even if she takes being called a romantic as an insult😂😂! Especially for Mary

[@zandertheegreat6987]

That scene where Spratt tries to play games with Violet and she promptly calls his bluff, chews him up, and spits him out with no effort is pure gold.

[@SISSYKAY]

That big tattle tale 🤣🤣

[@petec434]

I watch this scene just for that epic roll of the eyes at the end.

[@thomasplinguidy4588]

3:40 "If I was seduced by a man I would not let any grass under his feet if he had offered to do the decent thing" From what we know of the elder Lady Grantham's interesting past, she's probably never hesitated to steer every man in any direction she wished.

[@emilycanfield2634]

I would love a prequel of Downton about her life, maybe even with young Robert/Cora

[@raechelcleberg8854]

Maggie makes me laugh so hard at times; her acting is so perfect!

[@robfmas]

What a scene, it doesnt get any better...

[@deardiary8292]

She is a queen.

[@errrno1761]

_nothing beneath the dignity of the butler of this house_ 💀💀💀

[@robfmas]

LoL!!!

[@TheBasher-_-]

Firee

[@carolbutler6932]

Keep calm, smile, and lie. That often saves the day.

[@l.a.3479]

Never act surprised! Lol 🤣

[@brydon5721]

The Dowager makes Downton what it is.

[@waverlyphillips2849]

I'm not sure what he was trying to accomplish here, but Sprat was playing with fire.

[@kokoeteantigha389]

The dowager would've made a fine head of the MI5.

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

look for the downton/smiley crossover

[@juliam.mallen3181]

Such great acting! Perfect writing.

[@karenashton5053]

The Dowager is a cool character under pressure.

[@puffeiffer]

In this scene, Mary gave as good as she got in wordless facial expressions against the Queen of non-verbal gesticulation: her grandmama.

[@bernardscheidle5679]

An "unwanted epilogue" must be code for "a baby".

[@sn1667]

AKA Edith and the Marigold situation.

[@creativewriter3887]

Yes.. "the Knocked up Nobels of Downton Abby". lol

[@TheFever77]

Yes it means up the duff.

[@annsmith7207]

Violet was always quick witted when put on the spot ! Love her ! "An unwanted epilogue" Hilarious!

[@johnboy32064]

The actor who plays Spratt is so good.

[@CrimsonThorns]

Yes, indeed: Jeremy Swift. I always like the interaction between Spratt and the Dowager Countess 😎

[@heathermetz3974]

0:17 “Spratt, I have told you before, I do not appreciate a man of mystery!” 0:42 “I warn you, being tested does not bring out the best in me!”

[@elisecooper1942]

Lady Mary is such a cat. lol

[@northwestprof60]

Line for line, Spratt wrings more out of his camera time than anyone else. His eyes are like black buttons, he misses nothing; and they remind me of that cat clock whose eyes go back and forth. And it is only Septimus Spratt who could play Miss Cassandra Jones, the very maven of comfort and elegance....

[@D_Marrenalv]

Lol...love it

[@joshuag.4873]

"Nothing beneath the dignity of a butler of this house?!" How's that for a threat? Haha! Did Sprat REALLY think he was going to get some dirt on Aunt Violet...? Pfff.

[@j.elizabeth4621]

i am not the biggest fan of this show (although I watch it endlessly), but the framing in this scene is a work of art

[@Jenzzyuk]

I love the Dowager Saving the day

[@marcosgarcia2643]

1:40 of course I did! (with yellow smile) hahahaha

[@markc3666]

And there you have it.

[@neilgerace355]

He is just as funny in Ted Lasso.

[@kinetsievarvenfloot1237]

It's a pity Spratt wasn't in the second film.

[@lyndashields4185]

Wow , how times have changed 😅

[@michelleclapham1833]

Well if we are to believe the spoilers from "Downton Abbey: A New Era", Violet an entire summer in the South of France with a man before you were married to Robert's father Lord Grantham! Naughty, naughty, Violet's got spunk! She'll always be my favorite Downton Abbey character!

[@Kelaiah01]

Plus there's the Russian Prince Violet almost ran away with! XD

[@__seeker__]

Wtf is Spratt trying to do lol lose his job? Trying to lord juicy gossip over your upperclass employers isn’t going to work out for you bro 😂

[@fannycraddock99]

I have always thought that it would be extremely unlikely that Violet would ever employ a butler with Spratt's nasty scheming disposition!

[@latinguy67]

that old queen was too much of a busy body

[@secretsuzie]

SPRATT.

[@creativewriter3887]

@@latinguy67 He was much more tolerable than the Hairball of a HouseFrau Danke. That woman was just insufferable.

[@rosered3608]

Yes, but he was a good British butler in which was in short supply.

[@bunnyslippers191]

By the time shown in this episode it was getting quite difficult to find a well trained butler willing to stay in such a remote area as Downton. Well trained servants of all sorts were getting more and more scarce after WWI, so she put up with Spratt's personal nosiness and other faults since when it was really important he would always come through and handle his duties properly. Look at the trouble she had trying to find and keep a really good ladies maid out in the wilds of Yorkshire. At least we got some interesting episodes out of Lady Violet's servants with their scheming ways. Denker and Spratt and their one upmanship was quite entertaining.

[@squireob]

Good heavens! Do you mean to suggest that a young widow might have quietly slipped off and enjoyed herself with a man she found acceptable? Even in early 1920s England, that's not so scandalous.

[@Kelaiah01]

Agreed. I read that during that time, widows were given more lenience, so long as they were discreet. I can see Violet being scandalized since this is still her own granddaughter we're talking about, but the show acted as if Mary were still the young unwed lady she was back in Season 1. I wish Mary pointed out her own widow status or something.

[@kawaiimatilda]

@@Kelaiah01 Maybe she was shocked given Mary's incident with Pamuk PRECISELY because of being seduced.

[@Kelaiah01]

@@kawaiimatilda Maybe. Still, I wish Mary had made the argument, "I'm not a young lady, Grandmama. I am a widow, and I have been discreet."

[@GitanAnimex]

Not if she was the daughter of an earl??

[@squireob]

@@GitanAnimex That's nothing. They know plenty of Earl's relatives who belong in jail!

[@m.layfette6249]

"A young woman of good family who finds herself in the bed of a man who is not her husband has invariably been seduced." "She couldn't have gone to bed with him of her own free will?" "Not if she was the daughter of an Earl." Poor Lady Mary, always seeking approval and attention. I love how her gran-mama is always there to bring her off her high horse.

[@edawhat3737]

What? Mary was in fact not seduced, she wanted to sleep with Gillingham so she did. What high horse are we talking about here?

[@m.layfette6249]

@@edawhat3737 Rewatch Season 5, and then we can talk.

[@cynthiachengmintz672]

The Dowager totally slept with someone who was NOT her husband pre marrying. Leone, maybe the guy who left her the estate??? Heh (movie isn’t out here yet)…and wuzzhisface??

[@edawhat3737]

@@m.layfette6249 Instead of me spending hours rewatching this show, why don't you just say what you mean? I don't recall her ever saying she was seduced, or judging someone else for it.

[@manujohnson6557]

This is more of a great insight into society, especially at that time; no one back then would accept the free will story because it was way less spicy. So, if an Earl's daughter were to sleep with a man like Mary did, everyone would just interpret it as her being seduced because it makes for more interesting news. The Dowager knew this very well from her long life in said society.

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

quality acting.

[@thomaskeil1437]

Sadly, the Dowager remaining among the living hampers the continuation of the series to a degree.

[@mollylea2643]

I was just watching this today!

[@Cynthia10tj]

It's Higgins 😂

[@gainal9080]

Higgins' past life lol.

[@violetbennett2407]

Amen.

[@mitche5007]

Professor McGonagall is never tired😊

[@princessleia7274]

The Dowager Duchess reminds me of my own illustrious grandmother. The ladies getting told off by Violet is exactly what my gran is like when she chides her grandchildren 😜

[@cherylneely7540]

The Dowager was the best!!!!

[@OriginalBigThing]

Ooooo…Sprat the Rat!

[@thomask70]

Mary Mary, so very contrary... Wanting her garden to grow...

[@romulusthemainecoon3047]

Lady Mary is lucky she didn't catch an STD or worse from her dalliances. I mean Edith did make some bad decisions but she went to bed with her partner ONCE, was truly in love with him, and ended up pregnant.

[@lemonsquire5993]

She had birth control. She had Anna buy it

[@arianebolt1575]

Pre-antibiotics, an STD was often a life sentence, if not a death one.

[@kerriethompson2073]

I always hated how they let Mary get around with as many as guys as she wanted with no consequences, but Edith truly loved her guy and winds up pregnant with only sleeping with him a couple of times. It's like the writers were punishing her. Not cool.

[@lemonsquire5993]

@@kerriethompson2073 Edith also fooled around with a married guy…in front of his wife

[@gordonmurray5962]

An STD ? Whatever can you mean by that sir? I do hope you're not suggesting anything vulgar.

[@katiamarin9425]

Ideal!

[@ginadisbrow9324]

However much I detested Denka, Spratt was not one jot higher than her level when it came down to gossip and offering up those higher than his station for public embarrassment and ridicule.

[@michaelmayoh656]

I love spratt!

[@julianaylor4351]

Granny is going to tell her granddaughter off. 😁

[@westaussieeggs8867]

Funny how things change, my grandmother, an 18 year old ignorant to all things regarding pillowing got married just after ww1 and hated allthing involved with producing babies abut also was very fascinated with the act. I would find paper clippings with anything involving immodest dress and other things connected to the subject. Later both my mother and aunt had relations with their prospective husbands before marriage just after ww2. When the time came for my sister and I they both watched us like hawks when we were in company with our boyfriend and it was the 1960s. Talking about hypocrisy. By the way we both managed, I married my only boyfriend but my sister had an army of them. I ended up in a happy marriage, now 52 years she wasn't that lucky, she is still married 47 years but... Anyhow times and morals change, sometimes for the better sometimes not.

[@shawnsoljour3619]

Where is the Dowager stating princess do not grin like a Cheshire Cat

[@vinalboy]

Love Spratt.

[@mariagrazialiparota2886]

Cosa fare per avere i sottotitoli in italiano?

[@pilarpardillos4919]

Porqué no lo traducen al Español??

[@SerenaOkoli]

I actually wished she got married to Gillingham instead.

[@seanpatrickroaney2764]

So Mary is Maggie Smith's granddaughter, right? So why does the gossipy butler think it's a good idea to go talking sh*t about her to grandma? Even worse, to do it in that childish and irritating "I know something you don't nyah nyah nyah" type way. That would seem ill-advised.

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

The only good reason would be that something needed to be done about this. And the dowager duchess was the one to tackle it. And if she wasn't aware of the problem, she needed to be told (so she could take action). But how to tell her, when it's technically "not your place"... 🤔

[@Dave_L913]

I always assumed Lady Mary broke it off with Lord Gillingham after their tryst because he was lousy in bed.

[@Dan-pd9ys]

Lol Sprat is the worst. He’s so irritating

[@michaelmayoh656]

Don't agree he is a great comic character!

[@Dan-pd9ys]

@@michaelmayoh656 oh he is haha. But he's also the worst

[@hpavalferr7201]

💙☺️

[@littlebigman5791]

I don't think that t any sleeping occurred.

[@carriec5807]

Gaslighting at it's finest 😐

[@positiveworld-view8677]

Demeanor. ..standards...privileges..!

[@ponypint6635]

One more reason to quit Net flix...they are dropping Downton Abbey.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

@Bardenbella120 their license for the show expired. Either renewal was not available or they felt it was too expensive.

[@AndrewMLMitchell]

she's gatekeep gaslight girlboss

[@wantnoodles]

Dowager is very quick thinking for a woman her age

[@santiagogarrido7743]

Me encanto este programa pero en momentos como este me cae muy mal la dowager, María es una mujer adulta y se puede acostar con quien le de la gana y la abuela no tiene porque criticarla

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

You are transplanting modern values (or lack of values) on a situation 100 years ago. Back then, no dear. An unmarried -woman- lady would not just hop into bed with anyone. 🤷

[@Lady_Chalk]

Ugh why is Marylike that? 🙄

[@l.a.3479]

Like what?

[@litoboy5]

SHE IS A LADY