The general Election of 1924 brings a Labour government into power, to the consternation of Robert and Carson, though many of the staff are pleased to have a prime minister from the working class. A village delegation, building a war memorial to local dead, requests Carson, not Robert, to head its committee and the class-bound butler feels awkward, ensuring the earl is made a patron. Tim Drewe tells Lady Edith he knows that Marigold, the daughter he and his wife have adopted, is her child whilst Lady Mary receives another proposal from Tony Gillingham. Violet organizes a lunch party to match Isobel with Lord Merton though Isobel resists and at Robert and Cora's anniversary dinner supports Sarah Bunting and Tom's view that the war was futile. Robert immediately takes a dislike to Sarah. Barrow continues to pressurize Baxter to disclose damning information on John Bates but, encouraged by the adoring Molesley, she tells Cora her secret, that she was imprisoned for theft from an employer... Written by don @ minifie-1

Plans for the war memorial do not go as smoothly as hoped. Rose tries to get a wireless at Downton, while Mary goes to Liverpool for her weekend with Lord Gillingham. Edith wants to get more involved in baby Marigold's life and Baxter still refuses to reveal her whole story. Art historian Simon Bricker is a houseguest who seems to be interested in more than just the paintings at the Abbey. Written by Anonymous

Mary wakes up in bed with Tony Gillingham after their tryst and returns to Downton, where she learns that a building firm want to buy land for a housing estate, to which Robert objects. Violet discovers from her butler Spratt about Mary and Tony but covers for her before summoning her for an explanation. Mary explains to her that she plans to marry Tony but later tells Tom the truth, that she has no intention. In return he confesses that he is considering a move to America. Following the policeman's visit, Anna is perturbed that her ordeal will be revealed, particularly as the animosity between John and Green comes to light. John gives his alibi, that he spent the day in question in York, and Mrs Hughes and Mary agree to collude with this. As Barrow goes to visit his dying father, Baxter tells Cora that she was beguiled into the jewel theft by a cruel footman called Peter Coyle, whom she loved but who fled leaving her to take the blame. Tim's wife wants to bar Edith from seeing ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Violet and Isobel visit the soup kitchen Rose is running for the Russian refugees and Isobel is surprised when Violet confesses that Prince Kuragin once asked her to run away with him. Isobel herself is flattered by Lord Merton's sincere marriage proposal but asks for time to consider whilst Mary travels to London to reject Tony's offer. He is persistent but by chance she meets and dines with Charles Blake. Edith hears that Michael may be alive but in prison in Germany for opposing Fascists, though is upset when the Drewes refuse to let her see Marigold. Bricker's reappearance angers Robert, as does Sarah Bunting's continual challenge to his authority, causing him to ban her from the house. Baxter discovers that Barrow is attempting to 'cure' his homosexuality whilst the police continue to rake up Green's death, especially as, whilst in London with Mary, Anna visited the spot where he was killed. Written by don @ minifie-1

Tom breaks off his friendship with Sarah but, on learning that she is moving to another job in Preston and encouraged by Daisy, wishes her well and thanks her for reminding him who he is. Rose meets Atticus Aldridge, a young lawyer of Russian-Jewish descent, who invites her to call on him when she is in London whilst the police interview Anna regarding Green's death, to the interest of Barrow, whose unhealthy complexion is getting noticed. Baxter relates her crime to Molesley and the pair grow closer. Violet's daughter Rosamund visits and the dowager tumbles to the fact that Marigold is Edith's daughter. The two older women want to get her away to France but Edith hopes to take her to London instead. Bricker tries to force himself on Cora but is interrupted by Robert. Written by don @ minifie-1

Violet has a new maid, Denker, who makes it clear to her what she regards as the limitations of her duties. She accompanies Violet to see Prince Kuragin with news of his wife's whereabouts but the dowager is shocked when Kuragin reveals that he still loves her. An anonymous letter to the police has them questioning Baxter as to whether John ever went to London, though she is unable to help. Aware that it was sent by Barrow she is forgiving enough to take him to see Dr Clarkson when his treatments have a negative effect on him. Robert and Cora reconcile as Robert accepts Mary and Tom's view that they should build decent houses on Downton land whilst John discovers Mary's condoms in Anna's cabinet and accuses her of not wanting to bear his child out of belief that he killed Green. Edith learns that Michael Gregson has been murdered by Fascist thugs and that she now owns his publishing company. Most of the family attend a point-to-point race, where Blake parades new girlfriend Mabel in ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Violet and Rosamund tell an angry Cora Edith's secret, which she promises to keep from Robert. Atticus brings his parents to stay, his mother being charming but his father less than happy that he wants to marry the non-Jewish Rose. Atticus suggests ringing Edith at the publishers but instead Cora goes to London and brings Edith and her daughter home, passing Marigold off as a deceased friend's child. Tom decides to take his daughter to live in America with his cousin whilst John and Anna contemplate running a hotel. They are not wholly satisfied with Baxter's reluctance to give him an alibi, unaware of her past, but both Molesley and Barrow champion her. Blake, about to be posted abroad, helps Mary get rid of Tony's attentions whilst Isobel agrees to marry Lord Merton. However his vile son Larry, seeing Isobel as beneath his class, insults her and the Crawleys and is thrown out of the abbey. Atticus also proposes to Rose. Written by don @ minifie-1

Violet is shaken when Kuragin confesses that he loves her and wishes to remain with her rather than locate his missing wife. The family then goes to London for Rose's wedding where her sour mother Susan makes it clear that she and estranged husband Shrimpy are only putting up a show of togetherness for the wedding and she is as disapproving of the match as Lord Sinderby. On his stag night Atticus is tricked into appearing shirtless with a prostitute and the photo sent to Rose. Anna and John are summoned to Scotland Yard and told that Green was well-known as a sexual predator though they feign innocence. Anna takes part in an identity parade and is released but later arrested, as she was seen at the spot where Green died. The others return to Downton for the unveiling of the war memorial. Written by don @ minifie-1

It's grouse-shooting season, and Rose's father-in-law, Lord Sinderby, has rented out Brancaster Castle in Northumberland and invited the Crawley family to a shooting party. Stowell, the Sinderbys' butler, has an ax to grind and a scandalous secret threatens to undermine the holiday. Surprises are in store as the families become better acquainted with each other and some new faces arrive on the scene. Meanwhile, the servants hold the fort back at Downton. Written by Anonymous