Downton Abbey (TV Series)

Episode #2.4 (2011)

Lesley Nicol: Mrs. Patmore

Quotes 

• Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : Is it true they're fed from our kitchens?

  Daisy Robinson : Only the stuff the army gives.

  Mrs. Patmore : That's right. We only use the food the army pays for and all the men have served their country.

  Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : [pause]  In future, I would prefer it if you would use food paid for by the house. I don't want the army to accuse us of mismanagement.

  Sarah O'Brien : You mean you're going to let them get away with it?

  Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : Oh more than that. I'm going to help them and so are you. Molesley, if you bring that table across we can split the food and form two lines and it will go faster.

• Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : [after walking in on Daily, Mrs. Patmore, Molesely and Mrs. Bird preparing to serve food to indigent former soldiers]  May we come in?

  Mrs. Patmore : Your ladyship... what a surprise.

  Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : O'Brien seemed to think that you and Mrs Bird were engaged in a commercial venture of some sort, so I came to see for myself.

  Mrs. Bird : [indignantly]  We are not, Your Ladyship!

  Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : I agree that's not what it looks like.

  Mrs. Patmore : We feed these men once a week and I'm not ashamed of it. I'll be back before luncheon at the big house.

  Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : I'm sure. But is it true they are fed from our kitchens?

  Daisy Robinson : Only the stuff the army gives. They are soldiers.

  Sarah O'Brien : What did I tell you?

  Mrs. Patmore : Daisy's right. We only use the food the army pay for, and all the men have served their country.

  Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : In future, I would prefer it if you would use food paid for by the house. I don't want the army to accuse us of mismanagement.

  Sarah O'Brien : You mean you're going to let them get away with it?

  Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham : Oh, more than that. I'm going to help them - and so are you.

• Isobel Crawley : But the patients are always served their luncheon at half past twelve.

  Mrs. Patmore : Well, today they'll be served at one.