Spring 1920:- Mary and Matthew's wedding is fast approaching. O'Brien fixes for her nephew Alfred, a former hotel waiter, to be the new footman though Carson finds him inefficient whilst Daisy is annoyed that, in view of the amount of cooking she does, she is still a kitchen maid and has not been promoted. Anna finds a list of all Vera's contacts and tells John she intends to write to them to discover if any of them found her suicidal. Robert, meanwhile, finds the future of Downton Abbey at risk due to money problems but Matthew annoys Mary by refusing a legacy left him by Lavinia's father. Sybil and Tom Branson arrive from Ireland - paid for by Violet - but Tom's new situation causes some awkwardness,largely for himself and the officious Carson, though he is supported by the Crawleys. When Tom appears drunk and vocal at dinner, Edith's gentlemanly admirer Sir Anthony exposes snobbish guest Larry Grey as having drugged him and Matthew asks Tom to be his best man. Tom reciprocates by ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Mary and Matthew return from their honeymoon but he is still reluctant to take the Swire inheritance so the family plans to impress Martha with a lavish dinner party, entertaining locals, in the hope that she will bankroll them. When the oven breaks down, Martha saves the day with her indoor picnic but is unable to provide the financial help the family wants. A jealous Thomas sets out to sabotage Alfred and replace him with Molesley but O'Brien gets revenge by humiliating Thomas whilst Isobel, working at a charity in York to help single mothers, spots Ethel, who runs off after being recognized. Mrs Patmore accompanies a nervous Mrs Hughes to the doctor after the housekeeper finds a lump on her chest. He takes tests but the analysis will take two months and the women agree to keep it secret from other staff. Despite her father's early disapproval that he is too old for her, Edith finally gets engaged to Sir Anthony. Written by don @ minifie-1

The feud continues between O'Brien and Thomas, who suggests that the ladies' maid intends leaving. Carson suspects that Mrs Hughes is unwell and tricks Mrs Patmore into confirming the cancer and, in a misguided effort to help, informs Cora. Anna visits a friend of Vera, Mrs Bartlett, though she offers no fresh evidence whilst, John falls foul of cell-mate Craig. Mary finds a letter which could persuade Matthew to take the inheritance and save the family home. Edith prepares to marry Sir Anthony. Written by don @ minifie-1

August 1920. At Ethel's request, Isobel and Mrs Hughes arrange a meeting with Mr and Mrs Bryant as Ethel believes her son Charlie would have a better life with them. The kindly Mrs Bryant offers money but Ethel, though it is heart-breaking for her, agrees that the couple should raise her son for his own benefit. Edith, incensed at the limits of women's suffrage, has an article published in the press, which annoys Robert, but he is even more angry when Tom and the pregnant Sybil arrive from Ireland. Tom is on the run as an I.R.A sympathiser who has attended their meetings and will be arrested if he returns to Dublin, making them exiles though Tom expresses a wish to return to his homeland. Handsome new footman Jimmy turns the heads of the maids - and Thomas - whilst Daisy is put out when Alfred seems smitten by new kitchen maid Ivy. Written by don @ minifie-1

Anna finds evidence to prove that Vera poisoned herself after John had left her house in order to incriminate him, giving new hope for an appeal. Edith is offered the chance to write a regular newspaper column whilst Isobel employs Ethel - to the irritation of pietists among the Abbey staff - and Jimmy is troubled by Thomas's attentions towards him. Ivy proves her worth in the kitchen with even Daisy complimenting her. Sybil has a difficult pregnancy as she is unwell, a fact observed by family doctor Clarkson though an eminent obstetrician, Sir Philip Tapsell, brought in by Robert, overrules his view that she should go to hospital. She gives birth to a daughter but dies afterwards. As the household mourns Cora blames Robert for listening to Tapsell. Written by don @ minifie-1

Cora is still cold to Robert following Sybil's funeral and he is not best pleased when Tom announces that he wants his daughter, also to be named Sybil, to be raised as a Catholic, especially as Cora and her daughters back the young Irishman. He also clashes with Matthew over the running of the estate and there is further humiliation for him when Isobel invites the ladies of Downton to a dinner cooked by Ethel and, tipped off by the sanctimonious Carson, he tries to get them to leave because of Ethel's past, all of them defying him. Daisy visits her late husband's father, Mr Mason, who suggests she come to help him on his farm whilst Anna receives a letter saying that John is to be freed after Mrs Bartlett's evidence, though John has had to use threats for the outcome to be reached. Written by don @ minifie-1

Thomas fears for his job as Robert's valet and not just because John has been released back to Downton Abbey, to the delight of everybody else. The vengeful O'Brien, attempting to advance Alfred in the household, has tricked him into believing that his feelings for Jimmy are reciprocated, leading him to make a disastrous play for the shocked footman. And O'Brien makes sure that Carson finds out. Robert is doubly annoyed. Edith has decided to go to London and accept the journalist post, where she is charmed by magazine editor Gregson. Furthermore Matthew is insisting the estate be overhauled with new machinery, to make it self-sufficient. Tom's brother Kieran arrives from Liverpool for the wedding and does not endear himself to the family. However, when the old estate manager resigns in protest at Matthew's proposals Cora suggests Tom, who has farming knowledge, take on the job rather than return with Kieran to work in his garage. Isobel is angry with Violet who, claiming to act in ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Carson promises Thomas that if he resigns, citing John's return as the reason, he will give him a good reference. However, O'Brien persuades Jimmy to tell the butler that he will call the police unless the reference is withdrawn. Violet's great-niece Rose comes to stay, apparently bored with London, though she is keen to accompany Edith to town for a day, staying with Rosamund. However, she gives them the slip to go to a club with her married boyfriend who was the reason her mother sent her to Violet, and, along with Matthew, they lean on her to return. Written by don @ minifie-1

The Crawleys travel to Duneagle Castle in Scotland to holiday with Rose and her parents 'Shrimpie' and Susan, an unhappily married couple due to leave for Bombay in line with Shrimpie's posting with the Diplomatic Corps. Robert discovers the reason for the rift in the marriage and the move - Shrimpie's mismanagement has lost the family home. Edith's editor and lover Michael Gregson also turns up and is befriended by Matthew, who believes he should let Edith down gently as he is unable to divorce his mentally-ill wife. Edith, however, is not so willing to give him up. Back in Yorkshire the staff attend a fair in Thirsk at the invitation of Mrs Patmore's new admirer, grocer Jos Tufton. The Downton boys win a tug-of-war but a drunken Jimmy is robbed by locals and rescued by Thomas, who ends up injured. Also at the fair are Isobel and local doctor Clarkson. Forward new maid Edna tries to seduce Tom. Written by don @ minifie-1