Downton Abbey (TV Series)

Episode #4.1 (2013)

Michelle Dockery: Lady Mary Crawley

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lady Mary Crawley : [morosely]  The truth is I don't think I'm going to be a very good mother.

  Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham : Why not?

  Lady Mary Crawley : Because somehow with Matthew's death, all the softness that he found in me seems to have dried up and drained away.

• [earlier, Carson had tried to encourage Lady Mary to take a more active role in the running of the estate, on behalf of her son, and she accused him of being impertinent and presumptuous in offering her advice; now she knocks on Carson's door] 

  Charles Carson : [standing up as Lady Mary enters]  My lady.

  Lady Mary Crawley : I'm sorry to bother you so late, but I think you know why I've come. To apologise.

  Charles Carson : You have nothing to apologise for. I pushed into your room and I spoke impertinently.

  Lady Mary Crawley : I suppose you know my grandmother agrees with you?

  Charles Carson : That doesn't surprise me. So does this mean you have decided to return to the land of living? Because if so, I'm glad.

  Lady Mary Crawley : It means that I... know that I've spent too long in the land of the dead.

  Charles Carson : We were *very* fond of Mr Crawley, my lady - all of us.

  Lady Mary Crawley : I...

  [she bursts into tears; Carson comes over and takes her in his arms; she cries on his shoulder] 

  Charles Carson : You cry, my lady. You have a good cry. That's what's needed now. And when you're ready, you can get to work. Because you are strong enough. You're strong enough for the task.

  Lady Mary Crawley : But *am* I, Carson? That's the point. Papa doesn't seem to think so.

  Charles Carson : Don't you owe it to Mr Crawley to protect his work? To fight for the changes he made? To steer Downton in the right direction?

  Lady Mary Crawley : I know I can always count on your for a draught of self-confidence whenever I start to doubt.

  Charles Carson : And you will always find one here.

  Lady Mary Crawley : Goodnight, Carson.

  Charles Carson : Goodnight, my lady.

• Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham : I wonder how Edith's getting on. She has quite a London life these days.

  Lady Mary Crawley : She's seeing that publisher.

  Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham : Is it serious?

  Lady Mary Crawley : Well, he's not bad-looking and he's still alive, which puts him two points ahead of most of men of our generation.