Downton Abbey Season 1 Episode 1

News of the Titanic's sinking has just reached Downton Abbey, causing much chaos within the family as Lord Grantham has three daughters and no male heir. His ownly two heirs went down with the ship, including Patrick Crawley, who was to marry Lady Mary, the Earl's eldest daughter. With both heirs now dead, the Crawley girls must find husbands of their own as the entire estate is entailed away from the female line, however, perhaps there is hope after all as Matthew Crawley, a third cousin, once removed is now heir to the title and the estate. The Dowager Countess of Grantham and Mary's mother, Cora, make it quite clear that Mary is to try her hardest to secure cousin Matthew as a husband in order to save everything.