The Plot to Retrieve the Stolen Letter | Downton Abbey

When Rose reveals she lost a love letter from the Prince of Wales to Mrs. Dudley Ward, Robert freaks out.
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This 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

[@Robert08010]

I love the contrast between Rose and Mary when Rose accepts the good luck that the letter was "dropped" while Mary sees through that immediately.

[@gpg9516]

Love that Bates so many ‘talents’ and remains such a principled man. He’s such an anchor for the family.👍

[@alexis16]

"Hate to lie..." "l'll do it, I dont mind lying" The *look* Cora gives her daughter 😂😂😂

[@tombstonerforever9374]

I can't help but believe that Sybil was her favourite.

[@nulnoh219]

@@tombstonerforever9374 Always the youngest one... Poor Edith tho, middle child syndrome.

[@OnLifeandLove]

@@tombstonerforever9374 lol for sure, because she is the most "American" daughter, all about equality and freedom.

[@velaris2582]

*Pamuk flashbacks* 😅😂

[@creativehorsequeen]

@@velaris2582 Definitely 🤣🤣🤣🤣 She's probably thinking, "I hope I don't have the drag another body down the hall"

[@mythloverb5931]

Robert: “So the man is here in London?” Bates: *looks into the camera like he’s in The Office* Bates: “He is.”

[@decifixthealmighty1762]

“Well of course I know him. He’s me.”

[@laurapowell3814]

Bates is always the man you need on your side!!

[@user-gy5qp9kf1n]

Love this line; thank you for bringing a bit of necessary humor right now.

[@jimrobinson9979]

“So the man is here in London?” “He is, in fact, in this very room, my lord.” 🤣

[@MandieTerrier]

Sometimes I think M'Lord would rather remain in the dark

[@hilaryhongkong]

@@MandieTerrier Honestly I think it was obvious

[@seikibrian8641]

Still, plausible deniability.

[@summitsharma6008]

“You can’t steal something that’s already been stolen!” That’s great logic

[@joshuatreiss3452]

He isn’t wrong

[@florbfnarb7099]

@@joshuatreiss3452 - He isn't wrong morally, but he's wrong legally...as O.J. Simpson found out.

[@vnixned2]

@@florbfnarb7099 that very much depends on the legal system involved ;) Not all countries do it the same way

[@EstherHulst-Artist]

katana logic when she stole the water bending scroll

[@EstrafaDC]

The British Museum would rightfully be empty then.

[@gjm1953]

I really like how Mary gives her father a look when he says that the letter was dropped and Bates picked it up. She was wise to the whole charade.

[@Rennimagus]

The “happy marriage in Buckingham Palace” remark is probably my favorite of the series. 🤣 Oh Robert dear, you have no idea what’s coming!!!

[@m.layfette6249]

"I'm disappointed, I was hoping to find Mrs. Levinson here." "I'm sure you were."

[@Sunny25611]

😂👍🏼

[@hopelesshopefulromantic1791]

I don't know why, but the scene between Mary, Rose, Robert, and Cora planning it all, I adore that scene. This plot thread I always loved seeing upon rewatches.

[@juliam.mallen3181]

Well said the entire ensemble is simply magical! 💕

[@helentack8883]

@@juliam.mallen3181

[@thomasplinguidy4588]

A superbly acted plot with Bates as an elegant problem solver. And as Lord Grantham breathes a sigh of relief, one by one the domino bricks of history fall. Instead of causing a scandal with Mrs. Dudley Ward, Prince Edward remains undamaged until he will cause an even bigger scandal with Wallis Simpson a few years later. As a result, Edward's younger brother, as George VI, succeeds him to the throne, followed by his daughter Elisabeth, whose platinum jubilee for 70 years of reign we have just celebrated.

[@itsjessicaokay93]

Prince Edward is the one who causes the scandal. Bertie becomes George VI.

[@flyboy152]

Edward was called David by his family; Bertie was his younger brother, who as jess pointed out, is the one that succeeds him on the throne.

[@thomasplinguidy4588]

@@itsjessicaokay93 Thank you both for the clarification, I had mixed him up with Edward VII, who as a prince was also called Albert.

[@thomasplinguidy4588]

​@@flyboy152 Thank you both for the clarification, I had mixed him up with Edward VII, who as a prince was also called Albert.

[@afafmuberk6563]

Staff working in the castle are v loyal

[@Andrew-wl3hn]

One of the best sub plots of the show. I always love when the girls gasp when he shows he has the letter

[@Whitneypyant]

I don’t know if it was the best subplot. The whole point was to protect Edward VIII. He ended up stepping down anyway so their effort was in vain.

[@meechmushrooms]

"I feel as if I've spent the entire evening trapped with the cast of a _whodunit."_ "Nobody's done it." I absolutely adore this type of posh English humor. Their mother and son dynamic is unparalleled! 🤣💚

[@r6854]

I love how naive Rose is, 'he dropped it!'

[@annsmith7207]

Love, love, love Bates! He always comes up the the elegant solution and gets it done! Brillant!

[@sarasr18]

They did all of this only for him to give his throne up for Wallis Simpson lol.

[@mansighanekar]

Mr. Bates is ethical hacker of his time!

[@m.layfette6249]

"Do you want the heir to the throne to be lampooned across the world with a story that will never sleep, even when he is safely crowned and married to a foreign princess?" Lord Grantham, about that marriage. 😧

[@jayt9608]

He was unaware that his comment would age so badly. It was not his fault.

[@m.layfette6249]

@@jayt9608 Downton Abbey does foreshadowing a little to well. But as a historical drama they have to stay true to facts, how much ever it may pain the Earl of Grantham. Even the King in the first Downton Abbey movie tried to get Lord Hexam to go on an African tour with the Prince, in an effort to knock some sense into him. Gratefully, he and Lady Edith were expecting their first child. So all in all, me thinks Bertie dodge a bullet. ☺️

[@jayt9608]

@@m.layfette6249 I only meant that the good earl had no idea what scandal the prince would cause as king. He simply could not know that in a rather short time he would be abandoning the throne to marry an American, which was scandal enough, double divorcee with two living husbands, which was a breach of societal norms beyond toleration. This is why I stated that he had no idea that his comments would age so poorly. However, aside from the scandals caused by his brother's grandchildren, the royal family did enjoy a relatively...peaceful reign under both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

[@m.layfette6249]

@@jayt9608 As a monarchist, I'd doubt Lord Grantham would want to know. Relatively peaceful is the opportune word. By the Grace of God the reigning monarch, still reigns. God Bless the Queen 👑 💜🇬🇧

[@jayt9608]

@@m.layfette6249 As an American, I am no monarchist, but I agree with your sentiments and pray that she reigns for many more years in vibrant health. My other prayer is that William hastens to the throne and his children stay far from the scandals of their uncle and grandfather.

[@johanneshjortshj8646]

Give Bates a raise!

[@steveparadis2978]

"The Talented Mr. Bates": The Jeeves of crime. They should have just turned the whole thing over to him in the first place.

[@KTHR56]

Bates is a genius.

[@vixendreamer]

The Crawley's genius fixer

[@juliam.mallen3181]

Absolutely!

[@roxitajames5298]

We all need a Mr Bates in our lives (actually I could do with a Mrs Patmore too!)

[@gigibluestockings5168]

@@roxitajames5298 😌 Me too!

[@pedanticradiator1491]

He's like Jeeves to Robert's Bertie Wooster

[@tfh5575]

“i feel as if i’ve spent the whole evening trapped in the cast of a whodunnit” this reference

[@juliam.mallen3181]

Simply phenomenal the genius Bates! Extraordinary writing!! Such beautiful classic fashion superb cast! 💕

[@pedanticradiator1491]

Bates becomes Jeeves in this episode

[@callmeswivelhips8229]

This show is far too adorable for it's own good, let's face it

[@Sunny25611]

It truly is 😂

[@ThomasFromTN]

I'm tired of people on youtube trying to manipulate others by trying to shove opinions down everyone's throat.

[@callmeswivelhips8229]

No one is going to apologize to you for having opinions man.@@ThomasFromTN

[@KoiYakultGreenTea]

Pickpocketing level: 100

[@m.layfette6249]

Bates should teach a class on the Fundamentals of a Prison Education at Cambridge and Oxford. 🎓

[@patriciajrs46]

The look on his face, at drscovery, is priceless.

[@kristiandevoy]

I love Bates smirk @ Sampson

[@gailwebb9619]

Just more reason to,love Mr. Bates.....

[@medusagorgon8432]

I swear, Robert and his hissy fits! That scene was perfect for the stage. And Bates the mysterious letter writer. ;)

[@rosiereal]

I'd really like to see something about Bates' backstory.

[@scottywotsit]

Same! I want to see more about his and Robert's history during the Second Boer War (1899-1902), particularly with the nuggets of backstory that have suggested but not confirmed Robert and Bates were the previous generation's Matthew and William. Also would be interesting to see if Bates is at all jealous of Robert's happy marriage with Cora, while he's married to Vera.

[@valkyriesardo278]

We hear some of his history when Anna meets with his mother during the miniseries. He acquires some of his nefarious talents during his prison sentence for murder. During the series, Bates forges Mosely's signature on an I.O.U note because the man would be too ashamed to accept charity. It is clear that Robert understands Bates can pick a pocket but keeps that knowledge in confidence. It is not clear whether Robert knows Bates has a talent for forgery. I love the writing on this show. There are some dazzling one-liners. What is even more admirable is they leave some words unspoken and the actors have the talent to convey the meaning without overt display. Bates unceremoniously usurps the overcoat from the butler. The butler is a stickler for protocol but barely flickers an eyelash. He instantly understands that Bates has a reason which he need not justify.

[@timdowney6721]

Perhaps a bit like Pistol from Henry V. After the war……To England then I’ll steal. And there, I’ll steal.

[@flyboy152]

@@valkyriesardo278 Actually, it's likely he picked up his "talents" during his longer prison stint for theft.

[@juliam.mallen3181]

Such a superb cast! Simply phenomenal!

[@Tamdem_Eza]

"the whole ghastly debacle..."

[@joeseeking3572]

There is - or was, anyway - an interesting symbiosis between the better employers and their more senior servants. Downton, with some dramatic license, captures that fairly well.

[@abhilashmishra3601]

On her own? Have a heart 🤣🔥

[@cob9834]

The character Bates is the man

[@CeltycSparrow]

VERY well-done Mr.Bates.

[@katel7309]

love clothes in the 20's coming out of the weighty full 1800 clothing for women into elegant styles shame it never lasted. Loved the wedding dresses the girls all wore too.

[@wendimooreart]

At the time I saw this episode, I had no idea that Freda Dudley Ward was a real person. Of course, I knew about Prince Edward eventually marrying Wallis Simpson, but I checked Wikipedia and found a link to her page, with a photo of her. Apparently, everyone knew about Mrs. Dudley Ward. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Mike_in_Thailand]

and one of Freda Dudly Ward's daughters married actor Edward Fox, who played the king in Edward and Mrs Simpson. So on camera the actor Edward had an "affair" with his actual mother in law !

[@ligialeonardo8160]

Bates it’s our hero ! I tough the your lordship would suspicious him ! Or bates will tell the true ! I love the friendship of this two they are like brothers just like Anna and lady Mary ❤

[@carolineandrews7231]

I always enjoy re watching this in my many re watches :) Very convenient having that bread and butter thank you note to copy! And 'Bates' right on hand to do it, and so dead pan in this exchange. Bates is a handy person to have around, he has so many skills- forger, pick pocketer, he can move with the deadly precision of a tiger when needed!

[@meechmushrooms]

"...he left it in his overcoat?" 👁👄👁

[@davidhutchinson5233]

Just wish you had also included the part where the Prince opened Rose's ball.

[@pedanticradiator1491]

That's on another video

[@davidhutchinson5233]

Love Mr. Bates in this.

[@patriciajrs46]

Bates a forger? Who knew? My.I like this scene. What season was it in? Please. And a pickpocket, it seems. Goodness. He's very clever, very good at both.

[@flyboy152]

S4E9

[@patriciajrs46]

@@flyboy152 Thank you.

[@KaySan666]

I absolutely adore characters like that. Bate reminds me so much of Willikins from the Discworld book series. He's a Butler, a gentlemans gentleman all prim and proper, but threaten the family he is loyal to and sees as his friends, he will carve you up like a christmas turkey

[@Three-Headed-Monkey]

@@KaySan666 I was thinking the exact same thing!

[@flyboy152]

Actually, we knew Bates could forge at least a signature. When they wanted to give Molesley some money, Bates forged his signature on a letter saying that Bates owed him money.

[@emilyw530]

He should have thanked Bates

[@Bergen98]

Bates is basically the "enforcer" of the family. He is a stoic, wounded veteran with a particular set of skills... This man is outright scary, good thing he is always loyal to his family and friends

[@cheappinoy1053]

Bates is always the hero

[@WayToDawn72]

I enjoy that it has undertones of Scandal in Bohemia. Thank god the guy was no Irene Adler

[@Medietos]

But how good to have other people to share and help with life's "ghastly debacles"! Is a bread and butter note about trivia, practical matters? How handy that Bates learn some skills, I'd not have thought he'd be quick and alert enough for them as a phlegmatic. It is quite interesting psycho-biologically. Well done to protect him and he himself self-protecting.

[@Knappa22]

Do they really believe that Bates ‘found’ someone to do the forged note and that it wasn’t Bates himself that did it?

[@rabronin]

Bates is just too cool!

[@fannycraddock99]

Poor Rose was too dim to understand but Mary sure wasn't!

[@makrofictions]

This episode is better than the film.

[@g0nt411]

"You can't steal something that has been already been stolen" Solid defense for anyone trying to get a nice souvenir from some English museum.

[@DUCKDUCKGOISMUCHBETTER]

Correction: You can't steal something that wasn't owned by anyone at the time.

[@iwantsifegold]

I love that they are fighting to safe a literal natzi

[@outlookesp]

Mr Bates!

[@mterhaar6713]

on rewatching this scene I realise what a pity it was we only saw relatively little of Grantham house, or for that matter belgrave square

[@FRIENDSForever-tz8ho]

"you can't steal something that's already been stolen!" .. Former colonies looking at Brits 👀..

[@tr_g]

Writing is brilliant. So is the rest.

[@taylorvanbuskirk8040]

I LOVE IT!

[@mgg5418]

This was one of the most contrived plots of the whole series 😂😂😂

[@juansantos-lq2kz]

What is a “bread and butter letter”?

[@jancorwinenger8083]

A thank-you note.

[@Lolo50000]

Just them saying thank you, bread and butter here just means plain and unremarkable

[@gigibluestockings5168]

A very proper term for "blackmail". That letter would keep him in bread and butter for life!

[@billhosko7723]

@@gigibluestockings5168 Correct!

[@flyboy152]

@@gigibluestockings5168 No, it had nothing to do with blackmailing anyone. The "bread & butter letter" was a thank-you to Cora for the dinner invite.

[@melaniekendall4903]

Obviously you can steal something that's already been stolen! Good to see it's only a TV series. Ridiculous

[@muhammadrashid6699]

Thanks to mr baits saved every thing

[@allentchang]

Although a letter instead of a murder is involved here, it would have been nice if there was a Downton Abbey Clue/Cluedo Edition.

[@bathtangle]

The Earl may have been stupid about investing money but he was always a very intelligent man who knew, when the chips were down, how to maneuver.

[@Emdee1234]

It’s interesting how a piece of actual history of the liaison between prince David and lady Dudley ward is woven into fiction . It is ironic when Robert says “ when he is safely married to a foreign princess “ when the truth is the kind abdicated for an American divorcee . The actor chosen to play prince David is so different from the actual tall and handsome David though

[@mefford67]

David was a short and slightly built man. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Emdee1234]

@@mefford67 I stand corrected on the height , but the charm and charisma bit is still missing

[@krishnavyas313]

​@@Emdee1234 David was 5'6"

[@MirrorDomains]

Bates was a good man

[@milaenciso3746]

En castellano por favor

[@ninecatsmagee8384]

Do you feel better or not to know you have an accomplished criminal in your midst?

[@geirjohannessen8132]

He who,helps themselves helps athers will be helped. When med det.

[@hpavalferr7201]

😐

[@arkytiorcollective3095]

Bates was so hot when he was being a thug.

[@polemeros]

Rose is such a walking disaster.

[@juansantos-lq2kz]

Nonsense.

[@rosered3608]

She sure was 🤣. Thank goodness she grew up!

[@MinhNguyen-ff6xf]

She was a rebellious and naive person. Let’s look how many scenes she made: played around with a married man, fell in love with a black singer, sneaked into a tea room and had fun with a farmer boy, the prince of Wales’ love letter, accidentally told count Rostov and prince Kuragin about Atticus’ Jewish background…

[@thetillerwiller4696]

Ngl this plot was quite boring when I was watching 😅