Downton Abbey: The Complete Scripts, Season One

Downton Abbey: The Complete Scripts #1

by Julian Fellowes

The most successful British television drama of our time, the multi-award-winning Downton Abbey has become a national phenomenon in the U.S. as well. Created by Julian Fellowes—who received an Academy Award for his screenplay for the acclaimed Robert Altman motion picture, Gosford Park — Downton Abbey features stellar performances, ravishing sets and costumes, and, most importantly, absolutely riveting plots. Now the scripts for the entire first season have been collected in one volume, along with never before seen material, incisive commentary, and color photos that will completely immerse fans in the world of Downton Abbey .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Downton Abbey, Media Tie In, Historical, Romance, War

416 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes (Baron Fellowes of West Stafford), DL. English actor, novelist, screenwriter, and director.

Fellowes is the youngest son of Peregrine Fellowes (a diplomat and Arabist who campaigned to have Haile Selassie restored to his throne during World War II). Julian inherited the title of Lord of the Manor of Tattershall from his father, making him the fourth Fellowes to hold it. He was educated at Ampleforth College, Magdalene College, Cambridge, and at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

He played the part of Lord Kilwillie in the television series 'Monarch of the Glen.' Other notable acting roles included the part of Claud Seabrook in the acclaimed 1996 BBC drama serial 'Our Friends in the North.' He has twice notably portrayed George IV as the Prince Regent in the 1982 television version of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' and the 1996 adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's novel 'Sharpe's Regiment.'

He wrote the screenplay for 'Gosford Park,' directed by Robert Altman, for which he won an Oscar for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen in 2002.

His novel 'Snobs' was published in 2004. It focused on the social nuances of the upper class. Fellowes has described himself as coming from the "rock bottom end of the top", and drew on his knowledge of Society to paint a detailed portrait of the behaviour and snobbery of the upper class. 'Snobs' was a Sunday Times Best Seller and has now been published in many countries.

In the 1970s he also wrote romantic novels, using the names Rebecca Greville and Alexander Morant.

He launched a new series on BBC One in 2004, 'Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder,' which he wrote and also introduced on screen.

He also penned the script to the current West End musical 'Mary Poppins,' produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Disney, which opened on Broadway in December 2006.

In late 2005 Fellowes made his directorial debut with the film 'Separate Lies.'

He is the presenter of 'Never Mind the Full Stops,' a panel-based gameshow transmitted on BBC Four from mid-2006.

On 28 April 1990, he married Emma Joy Kitchener (a Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Michael of Kent, and great-great-niece of the 1st Earl Kitchener) and assumed the name Kitchener-Fellowes by deed enrolled with the College of Arms in 1998.
{Wikipedia}

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas present from a friend... loved the show and the movies, and reliving it thru the book was great. I forgot so much from the first season! Don't read until you've watched a few seasons tho!

[Emma Getz]

Yes i am reading all of the scripts to downton abbey mind your business

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book on pre-order after my Downton binge after watching the finale of Season 3 (UK time). I was elated when it finally arrived and dove into it almost immediately because I needed a Downton Fix. Yes, I realize how silly I sound. This script hit the spot and even exceeded my expectations.

I love the way this script is formatted, it runs alongside the series and if scenes were moved around, they are moved around in the script as well so you aren't confused. There are extra scenes included and are easily spotted by a small sidebar alongside it. In addition, there are comments about certain scenes through the book as well as a backstories behind the history of the times and why they did what, even confessions on a few mistakes they made. There are a few plots that become a bit clearer, including the one that befuddled me the most - what exactly DID Pamuk and Mary do? That answer was worth the book cost alone! Maybe I'm just stupid but I was always wondering how far they went and that is all answered here. Well, I think. LOL

Definitely pick this book up if you are a fan of Downton Abbey. Now if only Season 2's script wasn't SO far off in the distance!

[Cen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My guilty pleasure. No regrets!!! Just Love!

Básicamente son todos los SCRIPTS de la season 1. Es leer lo que ya se vio en la pantalla, pero con el "bonus" de algunos pies de página interesantes acerca de los personajes y los momentos históricos, así como una que otro diálogo y escena que no hizo corte final.

My personal favorite:

Sybil comes out of the house and runs into the car.

SYBIL: Go! Quickly!
BRANSON: Where's the fire?
SYBIL: I have to put Gwen's letter through their door, and be back in time to dress for dinner.
BRANSON: I think it's terrific, m'lady, What are you doing. I think you're terrific.

He turns as he says this, and since she is leaning forward, their faces are only a few inches apart. For a moment, they are just a young couple, flushed with excitement. Then she remembers herself, lowers her lashes and sits back.

SYBIL: I don't want to be terrific. I want to to be successful.

[Mia Parviainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not often that I read scripts, especially for TV series, but I was trying something new for the script writing unit of my Creative Writing class. I love Downton Abbey, and I think that the series has a lot to consider, in terms of formatting, pacing an episode, developing characters' motivations.

Since I've seen season one several times, I easily imagined the episode playing out in my head as I read. Unlike other TV scripts I've read, Julian Fellowes is a minimalist when it comes to actions; much of the blocking and movement seems left to the director and actors' interpretation of the scenes. Apart from crucial actions, sometimes the entrances of characters aren't even noted--they are suddenly just there in the scene, reacting to what another has said. If Fellowes does include a direction, it is often a line such as "he is pleased" at the end of a scene. It's a state of mind for the actor to consider as he or she reacts to the information--this becomes very clear if one considers how often DA is parodied as a show about people giving each other a LOT of dramatic looks. Great shades of Hemingway's ice berg.

The book does offer two advantages for DA fans: reading deleted lines/scenes, and reading lots of commentary. Deleted scenes and lines are marked by vertical dotted lines along the margins. Sometimes, there is some commentary from Fellowes about why the scene was cut. Other times, the reader has to think about it--in most cases the cutting speeds up the story and removes redundant information. By contrast, the commentary in the book is extensive at times, filling whole pages. It's useful, whether Fellowes is explaining a character's motivation, the complexity of Mary and Matthew (so many cross purposes!), or how many beats he includes in a scene. I found that I enjoyed the commentary towards the second half of the book, since the notes were less about establishing characters and more about the technical aspects of the story writing.

For DA fans, this is well worth reading. For fans of scripts or aspiring writers, this is worth considering, especially since it does set up the rest of the series.

[C.L. Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really fascinating to read all the notes about why certain events happened and the history unfolding at the time the show is set. Lots os deleted scenes or scenes that got cut before they could be shot, as well, that give extra insight into the characters I already know and love so well.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adds a shade of depth to the series. Julian Fellowes bases many of the characters, scenes and even some of the lines on family, extended family and friends. It somewhat explains for me, his excessively kind treatment of the Aristocracy.
Also questions left unanswered or unclear are given depth via missing scenes and explanations.
Did Lady Mary hesitate to marry Matthew season 1 episode 7 because she felt she owed him the truth about Pamuk or because he wasn't the heir? I've argued this with multiple folks, answered at last. As is the mystery of just what Mr Pamuk and Lady Mary got up to that night that would still leave her a virgin for her husband.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the series first before reading the script, it doesn’t feel repeating at all, only enables me into more clear details of the plot and the personalities of the characters, and the writer’s comments help a lot in understanding the way of life in a country house of that time.

[val · Rating 4 out of 5]

justice for all the scenes that j*lian f*llow*s cut 🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️

[Sophie Rozemeijer · Rating 4 out of 5]

-The scenes that weren't in the series 🙌😍
-Also Isis is a way better name for a dog than the original Pharaoh
-Also the way the actors played these roles, AmaZiNg!!!!

[Elena Perini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo libro non è un romanzo, ma la sceneggiatura della prima stagione della serie tv Downton Abbey. Una serie che ho scoperto di recente, e che è diventata una delle mie preferite.

Perché leggere il libro se si è già vista la serie tv? 1)Perché mi è piaciuto rivivere le scene attraverso i dialoghi tra i tanti personaggi di questa serie.

2) Per le note preziose dello scrittore Julian Fellowes, nonché sceneggiatore della serie tv Downton Abbey, che spiega le scelte fatte e anche le motivazioni, oltre al dietro le quinte e i retroscena storici.


Di cosa parla la serie tv Downton Abbey?

È ambientata nel 1912, quando il Titanic affonda a seguito della collisione con un iceberg. La notizia della tragedia sconvolge il conte e la contessa di Grantham che vivono nella tenuta di Downton Abbey, in Inghilterra. Ne rimangono turbati, perché a bordo del Titanic è morto il legittimo erede  della loro proprietà, Patrick Crawley. 


Robert e Cora hanno tre figlie femmine: Mary, Edith e Sybill. Il nuovo beneficiario, che deve essere per forza un uomo, è Matthew Crawley, cugino di terzo grado della famiglia, che svolge il lavoro di avvocato. Il fatto che Matthew lavori per vivere viene visto quasi come uno scandalo. Il piano di Lord Grantham sarebbe quello di far sposare Matthew con la loro figlia maggiore Mary, in questo modo l'eredità di Downton rimarrebbe in famiglia, ma una serie di circostanze non renderanno molto semplice la questione del matrimonio.


Amo la storia, e di conseguenza i romanzi e le serie tv ambientati in epoche passate. Questa serie è fatta benissimo, grazie agli attori che hanno saputo interpretare benissimo il loro ruolo, alle meravigliose ambientazioni, sia interne che esterne, e per tutti i dettagli storici.

Nel libro/serie tv viene narrata la storia della vita di  Robert, Lord Grantham, e di sua moglie Cora, e  delle tre figlie, ma anche la vita dei domestici, che in una dimora come Downton Abbey, devono essere molto numerosi per poter gestire al meglio l'organizzazione della casa.  Ho amato proprio questo doppio racconto, questa contrapposizione tra la vita dei nobili e quella della loro servitù. Due mondi, due realtà molto diverse, ma che sono legate tra loro da segreti, solidarietà e semplice affetto.


I miei personaggi preferiti sono Robert per l'amore che ha per i cani (come me), e perché ama immensamente la sua famiglia. Non mi piace, invece, la moglie Cora che reputo troppo fredda. Tra le figlie, adoro Mary e Edith.  È vero, Lady Mary è snob, e pensa di essere superiore agli altri, ma è tutta una facciata. Lei ha un peso non indifferente sulle spalle, e indossa perennemente questa corazza da dura. Solo con poche persone si apre totalmente, come con Anna e il suo grande amore Matthew.  Di Mary, mi piace la sua lingua tagliente, e la sua ironia. È sempre in guerra con la sorella Edith, altro personaggio che adoro. Nel corso della serie, Edith avrà una bella evoluzione. È una donna molto coraggiosa,  che più avanti con le altre stagioni della serie prenderà delle scelte davvero difficili e sofferte.  Penso che sia il personaggio che stimo di più. Non amo particolarmente Sybill, anche se ammiro il suo impegno in politica. È un attivista che si batte per i diritti delle donne, cosa molto lodevole, tanto che aiuterà la sua cameriera personale Gwen a trovare lavoro come segretaria.


Riguardo alla servitù, cito i miei preferiti, altrimenti questa recensione sarà lunga come un romanzo, ma ci tengo a sottolineare che tutti i personaggi sono speciali. Adoro sicuramente il maggiordomo, il Signor Carson, per la sua devozione verso la famiglia per cui lavora, e per l'affetto che prova per loro,  in particolare è molto legato a Lady Mary.

Amo immensamente Mr. Bates, il valletto di sua Signoria, Lord Robert. È un personaggio estremamente buono, che all'inizio non viene visto bene dagli altri domestici (e anche da Cora) in quanto zoppo e per camminare si aiuta con un bastone. Ho amato la sua love story con Anna, la cameriera personale di Lady Mary. La loro storyline mi ha davvero commossa. Molto bello anche il rapporto di Bates con Robert. Altro personaggio che adoro è sicuramente la cuoca, la signora Patmore. Una donna burbera, che non ha peli sulla lingua. Mi è piaciuto l'evoluzione del suo rapporto con la sguattera Daisy. I loro dialoghi, inizialmente, sono incentrati sulle faccende di cucina, con lei che sgrida Daisy il 90% delle volte, per poi diventare sempre più dialoghi personali. Tanto che alla fine delle 6° e ultima stagione, per la Signora Patmore, Daisy è quasi una figlia.

Altro personaggio che ho amato per la sua evoluzione e per il suo amore per Sybill è Tom Branson, l'autista. 

Devo per forza menzionare Thomas Barrow, il cameriere. All'inizio ho provato un odio viscerale per questo personaggio così cattivo, e nonostante durante la serie, vengano snocciolate tutte le sue fragilità, non sono riuscita ad apprezzarlo pienamente. Thomas è un omosessuale, e nel periodo storico in cui è ambientato, non si poteva certo fare "coming out", come si dice adesso. Questo lo capisco, e mi dispiace per la sua sofferenza interiore. È un uomo ambizioso, che apparentemente sembra immune al giudizio altrui, ma è solo una maschera. Soffre nel sentirsi solo, odiato da tutti, ma allo stesso tempo sente questo bisogno di recitare la parte del cattivo, non ne può fare a meno. È il suo unico modo per difendersi. Un personaggio ricco di sfaccettature che alla fine ho compreso e perdonato.

Promesso, faccio solo un' ultima menzione ma non posso non citare lei: Violet Grantham, la contessa madre (mamma di Robert), interpretata dalla bravissima Maggie Smith, nota anche per il personaggio della professoressa Minerva McGranitt nella saga di Harry Potter. Violet è una donna schietta, ironica, forte e determinata. Una donna che non ha paura di dire quello che pensa. Una donna che stimo e se fossi vissuta nella sua epoca, avrei voluto essere come lei. 💜 Molto belli i suoi dialoghi con Isobel, la mamma di Matthew, le due donne hanno idee opposte, i loro battibecchi mi hanno fatta sorridere più di una volta, e alla fine diventano confidenti e amiche. Parlerei di questa serie per ore, ma mi fermo qui, per non tediarvi troppo!


Purtroppo, in italiano hanno pubblicato solo questo libro con la sceneggiatura della prima stagione, mi sarebbe piaciuto leggere anche lo screenplay delle altre 5 stagioni.


Se siete arrivati a leggere fino a qua (bravi!!!), avrete  senz'altro  capito che è una serie che consiglio caldamente. Ho già voglia di rivederla, e non guardo molta tv, ma mi è entrata nel cuore. 

[Teresa R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sólo tengo que decir una cosa; es Downton Abbey, las cinco estrellas estaban ganadas desde un principio.

[D. Carson Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a scene and then would watch that scene. Did the entire first season this way. There's a lot to learn about how they translate the page to screen.

[aixin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading an original script is always interesting because, unlike adaptations of books or whatnot, what comes to screen is usually more than what was written on the page. You have costumes, you have actors, you have music; so if all goes well, the final product is an aggregate of talent rather than a paring down of source material. That being said, I still enjoyed reading the scripts because a) I'm a complete Downton Abbey nerd and b) I wanted to see how Fellowes conceptualised the characters on page. What I learned was that Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael deserve far more credit than I ever gave them. On page, Mary was definitely colder and harder to empathise with; her relationship with Edith was also spikier and more blunt. But Dockery transformed Mary into someone that we could sympathise with despite her evident privilege (and occasional snobbery) and Carmichael made Edith into someone who had justifiable reasons for her actions. Other than that, it was a joy to also read the Dowager Countess' lines on the page. That role was written for Maggie Smith.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading the scripts to season one added a new dimension to appreciating one of my favorite television shows. It was fun to read the script directions and then watch the episode to see how the text was translated during filming. It was also quite interesting to read dialogue and entire scenes that were cut, and other scenes that were rearranged to subtly change the plot arc. Most often these changes strengthened the storytelling, but other times, such as in the case of scenes developing the relationship between Sybil and Branson more than is seen on screen, the missing scenes enhanced the backstory. While some the footnotes were of interest, on the whole this reader could have done without them. The notes were often repetitive or necessary, and occasionally off-putting in tone.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time I've actually read the scripts for television, and it's a little bit of a weird experience, especially having seen it acted out first. The one thing that struck me most strongly was Fellowes extremely privileged background, and that he doesn't have much of a clue about so-called normal people. I mean, obviously it's working for him since he's made millions off Downton Abbey and other period pieces, but I rolled my eyes at his aside about people nowadays not standing when a woman entered a room, and some of his comments just reeked of his clas privilege.

I do love the show though, despite some of Fellowes more asinine comments.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Script book for the first series of Downton Abbey which I'm currently rewatching and was sort of reading this alongside it as often shooting scripts differ to what goes out and this script book is no different. It shows where scenes have been taken out and Julian Fellowes has added extra little snippets of information about particular scenes and maybe expands on why it was written or why if it was edited out of the show that went out the reasons for this. He also peppers the script with anecdotes from his own personal history and gives background information on where the bones of the scene comes from. Would recommend for anyone that is a fan of Downton Abbey.

[Daniel Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know the series this is exactly what you'd expect, and more. I was a little surprised by the number of scenes and lines they cut out for air. I don't think they would have added a lot to the finished product but fleshed things out just that little bit more.

The best part is all the notes inserted by Julian Fellows. He tells you what he was thinking when he put that in or took that out or gives you background on various real-life events he based things on. Those give you real insight into the creation of the series.

[Rey Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

i will always adore my little group of entitled white people and their ensuing rich people issues. i have watched this show since i was a child and it holds a lot of happy (and very traumatizing,,,, sybil,,,,,) memories for me. going back into these scripts, i could hear the voices and see the scenes so clearly in my mind. downton is such a comfort for me and i will always return to it when i feel down. this was quite a read to get through simply because i have no time, but it always brought me joy when i got to sit down and relax with it.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book while watching the shows. The bits you learn from the creator at certain parts are very enjoyable, especially since it proves that truth is stranger than fiction in many cases. Seeing some scenes that were cut along with how things were rearranged in certain episodes is perfect for people like me who love director commentaries and the like. Very enjoyable for fans of the show.

[Gloriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun way to re-visit these characters and this story. I really enjoyed getting to experience the show without actually watching it. I'm not staring at a TV screen, but still immersed in this world.

I also really liked the footnotes that Fellowes added. I learned so much about this time period, history of the domestic service profession, and the filmmaking process.

Lots of fun, can't wait to see/remember what happens in Season 2 :)

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julian Fellowes has given us an instant classic with his much beloved Downton Abbey. This volume shows us the script from Season One. It shows us what was shot on camera as well as what was deleted. Julian gives us little "methods to his madness" along the way, telling us about life at the time period as well as his ideas for the characters. The book is illustrated as well. A must for any Downton Abbey fan!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure to read! Although I love the show, I had no expectations of enjoying the scripts (I decided to read them as a learning exercise)

The show is wonderfully written, which I knew, but reading the wordplay and nuances for myself was enlightening and I truly loved all of Julian Fellowes' footnotes as well.

Cannot recommend this enough!

[Veronica Anselmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoro Downton abbey e non ho potuto fare a meno di acquistare la sceneggiatura completa della prima stagione. Molto interessanti le note dell'autore che spiegano alcune scene e alcune curiosità. Peccato non esistano i libri delle stagioni successive

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to just connect to my fave TV show, all the bonus scenes and lines that were originally cut and the little comments Julian Fellowes makes really help you delve deeper into this wonderful show.

[Maritza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the anecdotes on the filming and historic basis that Julian Fellowes describes. This was so much fun, a quick read on one of my favourite British series. (My very first would be as a child, "Upstairs, Downstairs", such a delight.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book. Fascinating to see what was edited out of the series.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has the scripts for each episode and includes some deleted scenes.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the insights from Fellowes and the inclusion of the scenes cut from the show!

[Mr A. Rapado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

I am a late comer to Downton Abbey, but am now a convert, and am avidly reading the scripts. Wonderful.