Ok so this is random but a friend and I were talking about what it would be like if Cora and O'Brien grew old together and how it would play out. We came up with a whole elaborate storyline(TBH it was mostly me because I’m definitely the weirder one that takes things way too far) When we talked about this it was in person and I’m not a writer so I’m not sure how well it will translate from verbal to written form. So I apologize ahead of time if I’ve just sent you a crazy rambling mess.
Our theory started with Robert dying in the 30s and Cora going to live in the dower house. Even though O'Brien would already be getting up there in age Cora would keep her on as her maid, of course not admitting that she can’t imagine being without her, but making some excuse about how it would just be too much trouble to train a new one. So my friend was saying, can you imagine them as really old ladies in the 1950s with gray hair complaining about this new ‘rock and roll’ music(Sarah secretly kind of likes it) and we decided they would probably both need glasses. Cora is always on trend so hers would probably be some sassy cat-eye frames with sparkly bits on the edges. O'Brien would probably have a practical wire-rimmed pair that she only really wears for needlework, with a long chain running around behind her neck so she doesn’t misplace them. Or maybe she’d have something nicer because maybe Cora still chooses her outfits for her. And the two women would constantly bicker like people who’ve been together for decades tend to do.
I imagine them riding in back of a car together, two blue haired ladies in their eighties. Cora sees a sign for a sale on Oranges and tells the driver she’d like to stop and get some for the cook. Sarah scoffs “oh, you don’t even like oranges.” Cora snaps back “Of course I like oranges.” to which Sarah counters "Every time the cook buys them you complain that oranges give you heart burn.“ Then Cora declares indignantly “I don’t have to defend my preference for oranges in my own car!” So Sarah rolls her eyes and turns away toward the window muttering, “well if her ladyship wants oranges…” drawing out the word ‘ladyship’ with a bit of sarcastic emphasis because of course they’ve been on a mostly first-name basis since she retired a decade and a half ago. Cora’s head tilts and her brows furrow, “I heard that!” Then Sarah shoots back with more attitude “Well I said it out loud!” And Cora crosses her arms in a huff “I don’t even know why I put up with you, Sarah…" "I don’t know either, Cora, I retired in 1941 and you haven’t let me leave…” Cora thinks for a moment, “I needed you to train the new maid.” Sarah answers with a laugh, “Poor Miss Wilson has been in training for 15 years and still hasn’t graduated!” To which Cora retorts, “ Well isn’t that the fault of the trainer?” They each fix their gaze out opposite car windows. The skirmish is over because they both know that the training of Miss Wilson is a fairly thin argument for keeping someone around fifteen years after retirement but neither wishes to have an uncomfortable discussion about feelings. A few minutes of silence pass and, Sarah, without looking away from the window tells the driver to stop and get some oranges. That basically sums up their relationship as old ladies, I think.
Cora is a very active and gregarious octogenarian. She’s well liked by everyone in the town and many are amazed by how well the dowager manages, at her age, to make an appearance at every town festival and event. It’s also noted that one will never see the Dowager without Miss O'Brien by her side…at least for a while. Cora is the first to notice Sarah’s forgetfulness. Everyone says it’s simply a sign of age catching up to her but Cora knows it’s not like Sarah O'Brien to forget anything ever. At first it’s small things like misplacing her hat or her button box. Then comes a moment that Cora finds very worrisome. She catches Sarah hurrying downstairs and stops her to ask where she could be going in such a rush. Sarah replies “I’ve overslept and Mr. Carson will be very cross if I’m late for breakfast.” Cora, a bit distressed reminds her,“Mr. Carson? Sarah, Mr. Carson has been dead for thirty years.” Sarah’s face visibly transitions from determination to realization, then there is a flush of embarrassment, then annoyance, “Of course I know Mr. Carson is dead,” as she turns to continue down the hall. Things only progress downhill from there. She has good days and bad days, Sarah begins to talk less and less because she can’t seem to remember the words. She spends hours slumped in her chair staring out the sitting room window not even responding when her name is called, as if her mind is in a completely different place and time. However, if Cora enters the room and simply says, “Miss O'Brien” she’s immediately on her feet, back straight, eyes forward and alert, “Yes, m'Lady?”
We see a less gregarious Cora at the flower show. She’s not as sociable because she’s worried about what kind of day Sarah is having at home. When Cora arrives back at the dower house she asks Miss Wilson for a report. “She’s had better days m'Lady. I don’t think she knows who she is. And she’s gone and removed all of the bars of soap from the house again. Why on earth does she do that? It’s the strangest thing.” Cora just shakes her head. Then she goes to the sitting room to find Sarah. When she enters, Sarah turns to her and asks with a look of worry, “Do we know each other?” Cora responds with a gentle tone, “Yes, you are Sarah O'Brien and I am Cora Crawley and we have known each other for a very long time.” An expression of relief crosses Sarah’s face, “Are we friends then?” Cora smiles “Yes, we are friends.” Sarah responds with a sigh and smile, “Oh, that’s nice.” Then Cora takes her hand, “Would you go for a walk with me?” Daily walks keep Sarah from wandering at night. “That would be lovely.” As they walk in the garden at sunset arm in arm Sarah asks the question she will repeat many times before the walk is finished, “Are we friends then?” and Cora responds with a patient smile, “Yes, best friends.” “Oh, that’s nice.”
Maybe not that night but one night soon Sarah will pass away peacefully in her sleep and even though Cora is reported to be in perfect health by all of her doctors she’ll also pass away in her sleep only a few days later. Edith will say it’s because Mama was only keeping her health up while Miss O'Brien still needed her. Mary will say that sounds a bit ridiculous but Sybil will think it’s sweet that Miss O'Brien took care of Granny and then Granny took care of Miss O'Brien. Then Edith will place the urn of Sarah’s ashes, as requested, next to Cora’s side of the grave stone she shares with Robert.
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