What do you think Stevens would have done?

Just watched this movie again last night. *Very* powerful and moving. Makes me want to read the book--which I intend to do.

In the deleted scene "On The Pier", Stevens tearfully acknowledges to a stranger that he gave his very best--'everything he had'--to Lord Darlington. He sadly wonders whether he gave *too* much...and whether he should have thought more of himself and of 'others dear to him' when he had the chance. He also wonders whether he can adequately serve his new employer (Christopher Reeve's Jack Lewis character).

The stranger (a retired butler, himself) tells Stevens: "What's done is done" and to stop looking back. He continues, saying that they already had their chance and that they should "let others have their turn". Stevens seems to come to accept this.

As the story continues, Stevens seems to have taken the stranger's advice to heart. He has remained in Lewis' service, seems to have got over the fact that Mrs. Benn declined his request to come back to Darlington Hall, and is even working to find another housekeeper. Back to his normal self, it seems!

What do you think? If Miss Kenton / Mrs. Benn had had the circumstances where she would have returned to Darlington Hall, would Stevens have finally declared his affections for her? Or would things simply have been the same as they were before?