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Questions about 'A Lesson in Manners' episode


I'm confused about the ending did Tom go back to being a chauffeur? What happened to the rest of his money?

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If I recall correctly (and I haven't seen this episode in years), he does go back to being a chauffeur, because that's what he's comfortable doing, and he gives the rest of his inheritance (at least, most of it) to the ne'er-do-well nephew (or whatever) to pay off his debts.

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I believe you are correct. Always hated that ending. Thought Tom could go back to being a chauffeur or perhaps, open that garage. But, why not keep the money for his old age. Didn't have the social system they have now.

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Having just watched this ep (albeit several months after this post) I remember Prince telling that ne'er-do-well's love interest that the amount he paid off WASN'T all the money he had. He may very well have put most of it away in savings.

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Tom got 30,000 pounds and gave 10,000 to pay the other man's debt. He said he still had a lot of money left after that. But he didn't want to play being a gentleman. I can't blame him. :)

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I was confused by the end of this as well, I feel as if they episode ran too long and the end was butchered to make it fit for time.

I get that he gave the nephew 10K, but I got the impression that he gambled and frittered most of the money away. If he had kept most of the money, I think he would have opened that garage. The 30K he got would have been worth about 3.4 million pounds in today's money so he had a pretty big windfall.

That whole episode just seemed off because first Tom is flirting very heavily with the young kitchen maid and as soon as they try to make him a gentleman, it seems like all of a sudden he's in love with the nephew's girlfriend. That made him come off like some kind of cad. And the nephew's girlfriend was pretty down to earth and sensible and all of a sudden she's talking like every other shallow, vapid young woman of wealth. She says she's going to marry the nephew even though she knows he fiscally irresponsible and ask her father to increase her allowance.

The last thing that confused me is who Tom was chauffeuring for. First, I thought it was for the dead woman's sister and then I thought it was for the nephew's fiancee' and then I just wasn't sure at all.

Can anyone shed more light on the final 5 minutes of this episode?

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I don’t recall this episode or any chauffer character named Tom. Is this supposed to be posted on the Downton Abbey board?

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