The Sudden Storm

The Sudden Storm is the last episode of the third series of the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. It first aired on 19 January 1974 on ITV.

Cast

Plot

Rose the lady's maid awakens Georgina, who raves about the wonderful ball she attended the previous evening. Downstairs, Ruby is reading a newspaper account of the ball to Edward. Edward then explains that Mr. Lyons, a shopkeeper, will be joining them for lunch, and whispers that Lyons has taken a fancy to Mrs. Bridges. Upstairs, Rose and Daisy are cleaning Georgina's room. Daisy talks about how lovely going to balls must be, but Rose berates her for being too fanciful, and warns her that she better hide her affair with Edward or risk losing her job. In the morning room, James, Richard, and Hazel have coffee. James, in a typically grumpy mood, casually insists the way to solve the Irish Crisis is to "blow up" Belfast and Dublin, then stalks off to work. Hazel admits to Richard that she and James are not suited to each other, and says she will leave him whether he accepts a job offer in India or not.

It is August 1914, and the servants are offered a day's holiday in Herne Bay in Kent. They enjoy a rare day out together, and Hudson goes so far as to offer a song on the vaudeville stage, but their enjoyment is curtailed by the announcement that Britain is about to go to war with Germany. Hudson sings "Rule Britannia" instead.

Awards

Director Bill Bain won an Emmy Award in 1975 for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for his work this episode.