Upstairs, Downstairs

June 1904: An artist, commissioned to paint Lady Marjories portrait, takes a shine to Sarah and convinces her to pose for him. The painting, depicting Sarah and her roommate, is a bit racy, and when the Bellamys see it in a public exhibit, they fire both girls for what they wrongly conclude is "questionable behaviour."

May 1905: When Elizabeth returns home from abroad, her parents plan her debut into society, but the spirited young girl has little interest. She reluctantly agrees, but at the last moment, has a change of heart and flees. Rose, more like a sister than a servant, steps up and makes the girl see the situation in another light.

October 1906: Mary, the new housemaid confides in Richard that shes pregnant, the result of an assault by a man who drunkenly forced himself on her. Insisting he must bear responsibility, she reveals the man is Myles Radford, the son of Richards friend (and her previous employer), General Radford. Myles, outraged that Richard has the gall to question his integrity, gets even with a classless move that could have enormous legal, financial, and moral ramifications.

April 1907: Believing destiny brought them together, Emily, the scruffy kitchen maid, falls deeply and hopelessly in love with a footman named William. When his mistress, Mrs. Van Groeben, learns about his relationship with Emily, she angrily orders William to stop seeing her, leaving Emily heartbroken and driven to an act of desperation.

Autumn 1908: While providing food for the homeless, James and Elizabeth are surprised to run into Sara whose been living on the street. Elizabeth insists on taking her back to Eaton Place where shes given a job as a scullery maid. Sarah immediately reverts back to her old tricks and, claiming to be a medium, causes an uproar when she tries to conjure up the spirit of Emily during a seance.

Winter 1908: Elizabeth befriends a bunch of Bohemian-types, but is drawn to two in particular: Evelyn Larkin, a radical Socialist extremist, and her lover, Lawrence Kirbridge, a handsome, free-spirited poet. On the eve of her 21st birthday, with her parents out of town, Lizzy invites the entire group to Eaton Place, and is humiliated when the Bellamys return home unexpectedly and throw everyone out. Anxious to prove shes nothing like her parents, Lizzy is compelled to do something extreme, leading to a falling out with her parents and a harsh discovery about Evelyn.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Kirbridge return from their honeymoon and set up their new household in nearby Greenwich.

Things have not improved in the Kirbridge household. It turns out they have yet to consummate their marriage. Lizzie, unaware shes married to a gay man, is miserable and angry, making Lawrence miserable, too. Realizing he cannot fulfill that "need" for her, Lawrence decides to enlist the help of a friend to fulfill those duties for him.

There is great excitement among the servants when King Edward VII attends a supper party at Eaton Place. During the evening the arrival of an unexpected visitor creates an emergency below stairs.

The brothers of both Richard and Hudson are visiting, causing both men to do things they otherwise would not. For Hudson, it means putting on airs, and for Richard, the visit causes him to snoop, an action he considers beneath him.

Everyones nerves are frazzled when Lord Southwold dies, Lady Southwold and her companion, Miss Hodges, spend a some time with Richard and Lady Marjorie and a valuable diamond brooch goes missing.

The Bellamys are in shock when they learn that Eaton Place, which is part of the Southwold estate, must be sold in order to satisfy the terms of the deceased Lord Southwolds will. Adding to their worries is news of Elizabeths involvement with Julius Karekin, a man they strongly disapprove of, but in the end, the relationship proves very beneficial.

Elizabeths affair with Julius is over, James returns to England with his fiancée, Phyllis, and a major event marks the end of an era.

News of the Titanic disaster arrives at Eaton Place, and the entire household anxiously await word of Lady Marjories fate.

The race is on downstairs -- who will marry first upstairs -- Captain James or his father, Richard?

Hazel Bellamy assumes her role as mistress of the household with great trepidation and Richard becomes the quarry of a bounty-hunting Austrian woman and her wily and rapacious brother.

Hazels first substantial encounter with fashionable society causes her great humiliation, marital distress and a near-fatal accident, when she and James visit Lord and Lady Newbury at Sommerby Park.

A leisurely evening out with his chums, a few beers and some downstairs gossip give Edward a bigger headache than any hangover ever could.

The disparity between James and Hazels background is cut wide open when Hazel suffers a miscarriage.

In a gesture of goodwill, the Bellamys offer generous hospitality to a family of Belgian refugees and Edward is feeling increased pressure to enlist.

The sinking of the Lusitania has Hudson on a tirade and his anti-German fervor pervade the servants hall. Upstairs, Richard is made Civil Lord of the Admiralty in the newly-formed coalition government.

James yearns for a regimental post at the front and Rose volunteers to become a conductorette as the war rages on.

Hazel has a little fling with Lt. Jack Dyson, whom she met at the tea party for wounded officers, and is seen by one of her lady acquaintances. James and Georgina meet in France and share a moment of passion.

This difficult year finally comes to bumpy close. Helen and Richard meet Mrs. Charles Hamilton who wants Richard to help get her pet project off the ground. Edward is home on leave but all is not well. A bombing in London brings a familiar face back to Eaton Place.

Grasping at straws, the Bellamy family continue to search for any information to indicate James is still alive, but when Trooper Frederick Norton, James servant, arrives to deliver James personal belongings, Hazel loses all hope.

Rose receives excellent news, James is depressed about his slow recovery, Richard is courting Virginia, and the Great War is winding down to a victorious conclusion, but theres still one more casualty to be claimed.

As Britain tries to rebound from the war, James Bellamy runs for political office. Edward and Daisy are struggling financially but realize they have friends who love them at Eaton Place.

When James buys a small airplane, Virginia defies Richard, putting the entire household through quite an ordeal.

James and Lady Diana Newbury behave foolishly, with little regard of how it impacts others. Edward is in trouble with Daisy when hes caught in a lie.

(Audio commentary available on some DVDs). An influential industrialist showers attention on Virginia, and theres another member of the household being courted—Ruby.

On the eve of an important dinner party for a French diplomat, Hudson suffers a heart attack.

Hudson is back in his element when the Bellamys travel to Scotland for their summer holiday.

Better the devil you know than the one you dont is the lesson Mrs. Bridges and Ruby learn after a terrible row. Upstairs, Lord Stockbridge proposes to Georgina, but theres a catch.

After nearly 30 years, the Bellamy saga ends with the sale of 165 Eaton Place and a fresh beginning for every member of the household.