...whereupon we cut to hands being clasped with a bit more ulterior of a motive, at least on one side, as Thomas -- standing behind Jimmy James -- is helping his protégé with the winding of a grandfather clock. And you can take it from me that the entire conversation is loaded with innuendo, but I'll just give you a sampler by telling you that Thomas inquires whether Jimmy James can "feel a slight increase in the resistance." Thomas does wax nostalgic about how his father was a clockmaker, so it's clear his affinity for the job is genuine, but whether or not Jimmy James notices, he does let his hand linger on Jimmy James' shoulder for a rather longer time than might be considered proper or heterosexual.

In prison, Anna is wondering why she was kept away from Bates, but Bates thinks it's more important now that someone question Mrs. Bartlett. You see, Bates has finally figured out what I speculated was the case some time ago -- only mentioning it because you'd think someone on the show might have figured it out long ago -- which is that Vera furiously scrubbing the pastry out of her nails was an effort to remove the physical evidence that would have shown it was she who prepared the poisoned pie. Anna's voice gets emotional as she realizes what this means -- that Vera took her own life in an effort to ruin Bates' -- and says she hopes Vera's burning in hell. Bates, however, tells her not to go down that road, probably because he needs someone to keep pushing his limits in the sainthood competition that is this relationship.

Isobel has apparently invited Ethel back to Crawley House. This is a pleasant surprise, not because I have such affinity for Ethel as a character, but because it would have been easy for the show to conclude that the character had served her purpose with her tearful sacrifice last episode and given her no further thought. Instead, the writers have chosen for Isobel to show her further kindness and concern, which I find to be a strong character choice. Ethel assures Isobel that she hasn't gone back to, um, her client list, saying that now that she doesn't have to worry about feeding Charlie, she'd rather starve than hook again. Isobel, however, suggests a third option -- Ethel could come to work there with Mrs. Byrd, which would give her the opportunity to have a respectable job with a respectable reference. Ethel, of course, doesn't dare to hope that this will work out as she asks if Isobel has really thought about this, wondering what reaction Mrs. Hughes will have or Cora or, scariest of all, the Dowager Countess. "Can't wait to hear what she has to say about it." I agree, but I'm not being ironic. However, Isobel steps forward and asks if Ethel wouldn't like to work there and when Ethel admits that she would but thinks it's going to be complicated, Isobel tells her they'll face any such complications together. Ethel gives in and smiles hopefully and it's no giving your kid up for a better life, but it's still touching!