| abstract
| - A Family Gathering is the second season finale and the 26th episode overall of the 1970s UK period Drama, Upstairs, Downstairs. It was written by Alfred Shaughnessy and directed by Raymond Menmuir. This episode features the death of King Edward, VII; the return of James with a new fiancée, and Elizabeth's troubles with her paramour, Julius Karekin. This episode also marks the final appearance in the series of Nicola Pagett as Elizabeth Bellamy, as she left the show after a perceived slight over being passed over for an Upstairs, Downstairs movie which was never made. The show explained her disappearance as Elizabeth had met and married an American Lawyer named Dana Wallace, and she emigrated to New York where she lived and remained for the rest of the series' run. This also marks the final appearances of Pauline Collins as the former under-house Parlor maid, Sarah Moffat; and of John Alderton as Sarah's husband, Thomas Watkins. Also, British-American actress, Jane Carr (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; Dear John) guest starred in this episode as under-house parlor maid, Joan.
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