Ep 12. The Key of the Door

Upstairs, Downstairs is a British television drama series set in the early 1900s at 165 Eaton Place, a townhouse in London. The show follows the lives of the wealthy Bellamy family who reside upstairs and their servants who live downstairs. In season 1 episode 12 titled "The Key of the Door", tensions rise between the Bellamy family and their servants as they prepare for the annual Open Day.

Lady Marjorie is delighted to welcome her son, James, and his friend into the home for the event but is concerned about his lack of responsibility. Meanwhile, the head housemaid, Rose, has her hands full trying to prepare the house for the influx of visitors. The maids and footmen are frantically preparing every nook and cranny for inspection, while the cooks are busy preparing food for the guests.

While the staff is working overtime to ensure a successful Open Day, a young maid, Sarah, is preoccupied with an upcoming birthday and her desire to leave service to attend secretarial school. The only obstacle standing in her way is obtaining a reference from her employer. She turns to a young footman, James, for help who is taken with her charm and beauty.

As the day progresses, the Bellamys and their staff become increasingly agitated. Lady Marjorie's displeasure with James' behaviour causes tension between the two, while the servants continue to work frantically. During a tour of the house, Lady Marjorie discovers that the key to the family's silver closet has been misplaced, causing great concern and panic.

As the day comes to a close, Rose discovers Sarah has been seen talking to James. Furious, Rose confronts Sarah, accusing her of flirting with the footman. Later that night, Sarah reveals to Rose her desire to leave service and how a reference is needed for her to attend secretarial school.

In the end, everything comes full circle as the missing key is found, and Sarah is given a reference so that she can pursue her dream. With a successful Open Day behind them, the Bellamy family and their staff breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they have overcome yet another obstacle together.

"The Key of the Door" is a heartwarming episode that explores the complexity of relationships between people from different social classes. The show highlights how despite their differences, the Bellamy family and their servants rely on each other to overcome challenges, and how their lives are intertwined in ways they never imagined. This episode serves as a reminder that even though society may categorize people into different classes, we are all human and share the same hopes and desires for a better future.